China on the South China Seas

[tsap seui]

Well, HOORAY!!!! Let others, as Richard Rawlings would say, "get them some too" and, fight the dang wars.

 

I grew up with C,S,N,&Y singin' about world peace...and how we could "change the world".

Now, happily young in my later 60's I can only say that I think that as long as there are two human beings left standing...there will be wars.

 

Yes Graham, Stephen, Neil, and David...we changed the world alright. AH HA HA HA HA HAH and a HARDY HAR HAR

Edited May 20, 2017 by tsap seui (see edit history)

[Randy W]

from TIME

 

In a First Under Trump, a U.S. Warship Challenges Beijing's Claims in the South China Sea

 

Quote

A U.S. Navy warship sailed within 12 nautical miles of an artificial island built up by China in the South China Sea, U.S. officials said on Wednesday, the first such challenge to Beijing in the strategic waterway since U.S. President Donald Trump took office.

 

The officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the USS Dewey traveled close to the Mischief Reef in the Spratly Islands, among a string of islets, reefs and shoals over which China has territorial disputes with its neighbors.

 

. . .

 

One U.S. official said it was the first operation near a land feature which was included in a ruling last year against China by an international arbitration court in The Hague. The court invalidated China's claim to sovereignty over large swathes of the South China Sea.

 

The U.S. patrol, the first of its kind since October, marked the latest attempt to counter what Washington sees as Beijing's efforts to limit freedom of navigation in the strategic waters.

 

. . .

 

Under the previous administration, the U.S. Navy conducted several such voyages through the South China Sea. The last operation was approved by then-President Barack Obama.

 

. . .

 

Previous freedom of navigation operations have gone within 12 nautical miles of Subi and Fiery Cross reefs, two other features in the Spratlys built up by China, but both of those features are entitled to a territorial sea.

 

Mischief Reef was not entitled to a territorial sea as it was underwater at high tide before it was built up by China and was not close enough to another feature entitled to such a territorial sea, said Poling.

 

He said the key question was whether the U.S. warship had engaged in a real challenge to the Chinese claims by turning on radar or launching a helicopter or boat -- actions not permitted in a territorial sea under international law.

 

Otherwise, critics say, the operation would have resembled what is known as "innocent passage" and could have reinforced rather than challenged China's claim to a territorial limit around the reef.

 

 

Edited June 3, 2021 by Randy W (see edit history)

[MikeandRong]

Looks low enough that one good typhoon should erase it back to its original state, or at least below high tide again.

[Randy W]

in the SCMP

 

US accused of sabotaging peace and stability in South China Sea

Chinese defence ministry says it sent two destroyers to ‘warn and drive away’ US warship that sailed near island in Spratlys

 

"Guided-missile destroyer the USS Dewey sailed within 12 nautical miles of the Mischief Reef in the Spratly Islands. "

 

The Chinese foreign ministry also issued a statement condemning the US move, saying such a provocative action “violated China’s sovereignty and security interests”.

 

Observers noted that Beijing’s statements appeared to be more moderate than its previous responses, signalling China’s reluctance to exaggerate the impact on bilateral ties, which have show signs of warming since the first summit between Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping.

 

[Randy W]

This seems to me to be a good assessment from the Global Times

 

Destroyer crash offers lesson on sea rules

The Fitzgerald often sails in the West Pacific, including in the coastal waters of China. Certain rules need to be followed to avoid collisions on the sea. It is an unspoken rule that the smaller ship should give way to the bigger one. At about 29,000 tons displacement, the Philippine container ship is more than three times the size of the 8,315-ton Fitzgerald. In the face of such a larger vessel, the Fitzgerald obviously did not show due prudence.

 

. . .

 

The two ships crashed at about 2:30 am on Saturday, in the dark of night. Cargo ships often have lights on during night navigation so as to be identified from a long distance while the Fitzgerald is a small-sized destroyer which employs stealth technology. Under normal circumstances, it should have spotted the Philippine container ship first. From this perspective, the US side should bear more responsibility.

 

[Greg.D.]

China accuses U.S. of ‘serious provocation’ as warship sails near disputed island

The USS Stethem, an American guided-missile destroyer, sailed within 12 nautical miles of Triton Island, a small landmass in the Paracel Islands chain, on Sunday, a U.S. defense official said, marking the second such operation since President Trump took office.

 

...

 

“Its behavior has violated the Chinese law and relevant international law, infringed upon China's sovereignty, disrupted peace, security and order of the relevant waters and put in jeopardy the facilities and personnel on the Chinese islands, and thus constitutes a serious political and military provocation,” spokesman Lu Kang said in a statement.

“The Chinese side is dissatisfied with and opposed to the relevant behavior of the U.S. side.”

The incident is the latest flare-up in relations in just a few days, and came only hours before Trump spoke by telephone to Chinese President Xi Jinping, on Sunday night in Washington and Monday morning in Beijing.

[Randy W]

China accuses U.S. of ‘serious provocation’ as warship sails near disputed island

The USS Stethem, an American guided-missile destroyer, sailed within 12 nautical miles of Triton Island, a small landmass in the Paracel Islands chain, on Sunday, a U.S. defense official said, marking the second such operation since President Trump took office.

 

...

 

“Its behavior has violated the Chinese law and relevant international law, infringed upon China's sovereignty, disrupted peace, security and order of the relevant waters and put in jeopardy the facilities and personnel on the Chinese islands, and thus constitutes a serious political and military provocation,” spokesman Lu Kang said in a statement.

 

“The Chinese side is dissatisfied with and opposed to the relevant behavior of the U.S. side.”

The incident is the latest flare-up in relations in just a few days, and came only hours before Trump spoke by telephone to Chinese President Xi Jinping, on Sunday night in Washington and Monday morning in Beijing.

 

 

. . . and, in the SCMP . . . (this was on the way to the Hong Kong celebration)

 

 

Mainland carrier Liaoning and battle group enters Taiwan Strait

 

Taipei scrambles air force and navy to shadow flotilla until it leaves the region

 

The ministry said the military dispatched warplanes and ships to “surveil and make necessary preparations for” the carrier group in line with the emergence regulations and would continue to “keep close watch of all the movements” of the Liaoning. “So far, no unusual move of the carrier was reported,” it said and urged the island’s public not to be panicked.

 

The battle group, which includes the destroyers Jinan and Yinchuan and the frigate Yantai plus a squadron of J-15 fighters and several helicopters, left its base in Qingdao in Shandong province on June 25, Xinhua reported. It is scheduled to make a two-day port call to Hong Kong on July 7 during a training mission reported to be in the East China Sea.

Edited July 3, 2017 by Randy W (see edit history)

[Greg.D.]

Actually, I think China has the strongest claim to the Paracels; I don't even know what the U.S. thinks - they say something, I think, about the 12 Miles actually being "international waters".

 

The Spratlys, on the other hand ....

[Randy W]

in the SCMP

 

China urges caution on North Korea as US supercarrier makes Hong Kong stop

Group commander says PLA officials invited on board during vessel’s port call

 

 

The warship’s strike group commander, Rear Admiral Marc Dalton, said the carrier would stay in the city for four to five days before heading for “scheduled operational training”.

 

. . .

 

The Chinese foreign ministry said on Monday that Beijing had approved the warship’s port call.

It also urged all parties to the Korean peninsula dispute to exercise restraint, and avoid provocation and escalating tensions.

. . .

He said the vessel’s crew were eager to visit the city and People’s Liberation Army officials had been invited aboard the supercarrier while it was in Hong Kong, moored in the waters off the east side of Lantau Island.

 

[Greg.D.]

These port calls, courtesy tours and inspections, joint exercises - that bring the U.S. and China together always make me optimistic. For a while, anyway.

 

Yet, unless both countries find themselves fighting together against a common foe, I know down deep that eventually China will feel compelled to test itself against a superpower.

 

Here's to fighting together against some woebegone adversary!

[Randy W]

You have to wonder if this display of camaraderie has anything to do with North Korea.

[Randy W]

in the Global Times

 

Chinese frigate, jets drive away US warship from South China Sea

The frigate Huangshan, two J-11B fighters and one helicopter were sent in response to the US Navy destroyer's presence, a MND spokesperson said in a statement, adding that the Chinese military will enhance its self-defense in light of the US military's constant provocation, and will firmly defend China's sovereignty and interests.

. . .

MND spokesperson Wu Qian said in a statement that Chinese Navy missile frigates Huaibei and Fushun were immediately sent to identify the US warship, warn and expel it.

 

 

[Greg.D.]

From:

 

http://www.foxnews.com/us/2017/10/11/china-protests-us-navy-sailing-near-south-china-sea-claims.html

 

"China usually claims to have "expelled" Navy ships on such missions and its relatively mild response this time suggested the Chafee had not entered what it claims are its territorial waters."

[MikeandRong]

I thought the Chafee had just been in Hong Kong port? According to the nautical maps, water depth is 16-45 feet that close. This link shows the location to help put in perspective.

 

https://www.google.com/search?q=paracel+islands+china&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&hl=en-us&client=safari#imgdii=LM3fxUjImJMiUM:&imgrc=2M7I-siYspBrPM:

Edited October 12, 2017 by MikeandRong (see edit history)

[Greg.D.]

It's like your house guests leave but do some donuts in your front lawn as they leave. Cheeky!