I watched Mullen's interview on Charlie Rose and he seemed to suggest that things were pretty normal, atleast not out of control. Certainly an interesting development.
This certainly wouldn't be the first instance of something like this. Seems like this is SOP for Russia and China, every once in a while flex their muscles and remind us who they are. We'll flex back and probably trade posturing and then things will calm down again. Or at least that's what should happen.
China is facing some very tough times. Real deflation, factories shuttering (moving to countries with lower costs of labor), and a series of anniversaries that are sure to rile dissidents and the newly unemployed. They are wounded. Now is probably not the tug at their tail. But they violated international law. Tough problem for our President. Here's hoping the correct advice and makes the right decisions.
So far so good, I applaud moving warships to the area to protect the ship armed with water hoses. Wasn't there a movie about a ship in China with Paul Newman and they used water hoses. It was in color and done in the 50's, no it wasn't Newman it was the dude from The Great Escape?
Wasn't China W's first test as well...? I recall they held a disabled spy plane and its crew for a number of days pretty early on in 2001.
So China can proclaim whatever parts of International water they want to be an "Economic Zone", despite the fact that it encroaches upon the water rights of several surrounding countries, then sign a contract with a few small nations to go along with it and then tell the rest of the world that it is now international law? If it works like that, The US should just announce that every bit of water on the surface of the earth besides that area in the China sea to be the US "economic zone" and try to ram any ship that enters it. I am sure China is pissed off about this incident because there is no doubt about what that ship was doing there. But if they don't like it, they should go through the proper channels to fix it rather than sending out five boats to harass an unarmed ship. The reason you send an armed escort is, first, to protect the unarmed ship and, second, to let China know that they can't enforce their laws on international water. Right now it is a 200 mile blockade, what's next? 400 miles, 1000? What is to stop them from blocking off the entire China Sea? <Walter Sobchak> There are rules! <Walter Sobchak>
Puddle you should be expecting a visit from the secret service shortly asking if they can "take a look around your house."
"A potential conflict was brewing last night in the South China Sea after President Obama dispatched heavily armed American destroyers to the scene of a naval standoff between the US and China at the weekend. " This is a lot more expensive then sending the standard weakly armed destroyers but it's likely more prudent
Basically when Israel bombs one of our ships it's no big deal, but when a chinese sailor moons one of our ships it's necessary to send in an entire fleet.
I think the more important point is not partisan tallying, but the fact that the U.S. is being tested under Obama. It was expected (hell, I even brought it up if Obama was elected). The reaction is important. China is important to this nation (I really couldn't tell you whether we or they have the upper hand in this little dance). But the fact they are peacocking is troubling and requires a delicate, reasoned and respectful response. That's the right step. It gives cover to the watercraft. It sets boundaries for China's next step. Big test for Obama with our most important trading partner.
it's the right choice regardless of party affiliation. The US has always and I hope will always be willing to stand up to bullies on issues around freedom of navigation. I have been personally shot at defending these rights. we learned this from the brits way back. Internatinal law is there for the reason. Freedom on the high seas is paramount.
