CHANGE (IT BACK): Pentagon’s top policy official outlines new ‘realism’ approach to China.

Elbridge Colby, undersecretary of defense for policy, said during a speech in the Philippines that U.S. defense leaders will not call out states engaged in efforts to bully regional allies or seeking to control large areas of the region.

Instead, the new Pentagon policy calls for quiet and respectful relations — while also bolstering American military defenses along a chain of islands off the coast of China known as the first island chain.

Mr. Colby’s 4,000-word speech to a think tank in Manila made no specific reference to China, but it was clear from the context of the speech and earlier comments that he was referring to Beijing.

The new policy will seek to be strong and clear but quiet, Mr. Colby said, noting it reflects President Theodore Roosevelt’s maxim of speaking softly and carrying a big stick.

That was obvious by the second graf, but these days, even an undersecretary of defense for policy has to whack people over the head with the point.