South China Sea Forum

[Daniel808]

Working???

Working in Paradise Islands.
How Lucky they are

 

[TaiShang]

Working???

That's why our island genesis program is super peaceful.

 

[cnleio]

Working???

After 8x hours working ... leisure activity.

 

[gambit]

A poor excuse at best as China have no intention of restricting FON in the South China Sea as it has been stated repeatedly.

Then let US waste our fuel and time.

 

[F-22Raptor]

ABOARD THE USS THEODORE ROOSEVELT—U.S. Defense Secretary Ash Carter sent a blunt message to China on Thursday by joining the American aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt on patrol in the sensitive South China Sea: that the U.S. won’t accept Chinese domination of the contested region.

Mr. Carter appeared on the Theodore Roosevelt as it navigated some 200 miles from the southern tip of the disputed Spratly Islands. He sought to balance the American desire to maintain an open dialogue with the Chinese with the projection of American power in the region.

“The American approach to the security structure for Asia is an inclusive one, we’re not trying to make divisions,” Mr. Carter said, standing beside an F-18 jet fighter in the hangar of the carrier. “We want China to be part of the security system of Asia and not to stand apart from it.”

The carrier patrol caps a critical phase in South China Sea relations, security analysts believe, during which the dispute has evolved into a direct contest between China and the U.S., relegating the Southeast Asian countries that ring the waters to the status of nervous bystanders.

“Great powers’ actions can only be restrained by the balancing efforts of other great powers,” said Zhang Baohui, a political scientist at Lingnan University in Hong Kong, arguing that China’s growing naval assertiveness has now drawn the inevitable U.S. military response.

As the U.S. and China square off over the region’s future, any hopes that smaller states or even the 10-member Association of South East Asian Nations can influence events are now a “fantasy,” Mr. Zhang said. He pointed to this week’s high-level defense talks hosted by the Association of Southeast Asian nations, which ended in gridlock after the U.S. and China took opposing views on how to manage the South China Sea confrontation.

Asked about the symbolism of the Roosevelt and the man it was named after, Mr. Carter said he welcomed the military-to-military relationship with China. “TR’s motto was to speak softly but carry a big stick, but the ‘speak softly’ means talk to other people, see what we can do to reach agreement.”

He noted the stability that has existed in the region for decades, adding: “It would be a shame if people here ruined that.”

During the defense summit Wednesday, Mr. Carter told reporters that the carrier maneuvers were “a symbol of our commitment to the rebalance,” referring to the Obama administration’s hallmark policy of raising America’s profile in Asia. He said the right to freedom of navigation in international waters was a tried-and-tested concept that the U.S. would uphold in the South China Sea and elsewhere.

China claims most of the South China Sea, which Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines and Vietnam also claim in part. For years, those nations have tried to engage China in a multilateral diplomatic process to ease tensions, but their efforts have led nowhere, said Ian Storey, an expert at the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies in Singapore.

“Asean and China talk about reducing tensions, but this is divorced from reality when you look at what China and the U.S. are doing,” Mr. Storey said of the escalation seen in recent weeks. “The Asean conflict management process,” which centers on developing a code of conduct to regulate the claimants’ behavior, “is increasingly irrelevant.”

Mr. Carter reached the Theodore Roosevelt via a flight from Malaysia. His visit follows a long-awaited freedom-of-navigation operation conducted by a U.S. warship last week around Subi Reef, one of seven artificial islets China has been constructing in the South China Sea to assert its territorial claims. Washington doesn't recognize Chinese sovereignty over the waters there, citing international law that says countries cannot use man-made features to claim territorial seas.

The Theodore Roosevelt isn't expected to sail past one of these islets, though U.S. officials have said more freedom-of-navigation operations will follow regularly. The carrier is conducting “routine operations while transiting the South China Sea”, according to the Defense Department, having left Singapore several days ago.

China condemned last week’s patrol by the destroyer USS Lassen as a provocation and responded with clear signals of its own. It has deployed jet fighters to Woody Island, a Chinese outpost in the Paracel Islands—another South China Sea island chain—according to a state media report. This has put the disputed Spratly islands within striking distance of Chinese aircraft. The Chinese military also conducted naval and aerial drills off southern China over the weekend.

Separately, a Chinese attack submarine was reported to have tailed the American aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan during exercises off Japan last week, according to U.S. officials cited in various media reports. The U.S. Pacific Command didn't respond to questions seeking confirmation of the encounter.

A Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman said she wasn’t aware of the situation and had no comment. A Japanese Defense Ministry said he was unaware of the incident.

While seemingly relegated to the sidelines of the South China Sea struggle, most Southeast Asian countries are relieved to see the U.S. stepping up and challenging China, said Richard Javad Heydarian, a regional security specialist at De La Salle University in Manila, after months of China “single-handedly sabotaging the whole security architecture in Asia” through its island-building program.

Malaysian Defense Minister Hishammuddin Hussein joined Mr. Carter on board the Theodore Roosevelt on Thursday. Earlier in the week, Mr. Hishammuddin said Malaysia welcomed last week’s freedom-of-navigation operation, but said the U.S. and China both have a duty to avoid further escalation.

“Concern over China’s massive reclamation activities and emerging threats to freedom of navigation in the South China Sea is almost universal,” said Mr. Heydarian. “Smaller countries like the Philippines and Vietnam, and middle powers like Japan and Australia and India—all of them have been supportive of ongoing efforts to rein in China’s unilateral overhaul of the Asian seascape.”

Aboard U.S. Ship in South China Sea, Defense Secretary Invokes ‘Big Stick’ - WSJ

 

[Jlaw]

Is it just me or others feel the same way. Too much talking on the US side. Attack the Chinese island or ship. Political sabre rattling and shit talking by old men who will run at the first sight of confrontation is so boring--and so old man like.

 

[Aepsilons]

Political message. Read between the words , my hyper nationalist friends .

 

[pher]

How big is that stick? today's US is just like a joker who could only bully samll countries like iraq and afghnistan, even that was the result of begging the whole world put arms sanction on them for at least 2 years. Does it dare to touch North korea or Iran? no way forever.

If US want war, bring up to us rather than just talking big, and we will make sure to expose your true color of worthless paper tiger.

 

[Jlaw]

Political message. Read between the words , my hyper nationalist friends .

lol, the kettle calling the pot black my ultra nationalist Japanese friend?

 

[anon45]

But China doesn't recognize conducting military activities as navigation, nor is it necessary for FON to sail within 12nm of Chinese controlled islands/reefs. Been through this part before many times.

yes we have, and we know what China believes, hence my statement. Just because China (and no one else)doesn't recognize it doesn't mean military warships aren't ships, and maritime law regarding ships applies to ALL ships.

The whole point is these Artificial islands built on top of LTE's are not entitled to 12 nm territorial zones, but 500m safety zones. This is in agreement with maritime law, which is supported the world over.

 

[Aepsilons]

lol, the kettle calling the pot black my ultra nationalist Japanese friend?

Lol, it's good to see the kettle and the pot being so kind to each other, my dear Huaren friend.

 

[Aepsilons]

First we stalk their carriers with our submarines.

Chinese sub tracked U.S. aircraft carrier | Politics - WSBT.com

Then we declare nuclear strike on Guam and Kadena is imminent.

South China Sea incident: China tells US a small issue could lead to war | Business Standard Mobile Website

Now they admit South China Sea belongs to China so they try to save face with DefSec dancing & singing to entertain the sailors.

Innocent Passage: Did the U.S. Just Fumble Its South China Sea Strategy? | The National Interest Blog

Next will we see Chinese ships patrolling San Diego harbor?

 

[anon45]

Is it just me or others feel the same way. Too much talking on the US side. Attack the Chinese island or ship. Political sabre rattling and shit talking by old men who will run at the first sight of confrontation is so boring--and so old man like.

We don't care about the islands, but the water around them. We are proving that the water is open to everyone, and we will continue proving it.

Don't like it? Attack us. Go ahead, we are sailing around what you view, against all law, as your national territory. So come on! Do something! We are waiting and sailing still in your inviolate national territory! Where is your resolve!

How big is that stick? today's US is just like a joker who could only bully samll countries like iraq and afghnistan, even that was the result of begging the whole world put arms sanction on them for at least 2 years. Does it dare to touch North korea or Iran? no way forever.

If US want war, bring up to us rather than just talking big, and we will make sure to expose your true color of worthless paper tiger.

lol your country had its chance and it did nothing. Put up or shut up.

 

[Jlaw]

We don't care about the islands, but the water around them. We are proving that the water is open to everyone, and we will continue proving it.

Don't like it? Attack us. Go ahead, we are sailing around what you view, against all law, as your national territory. So come on! Do something! We are waiting and sailing still in your inviolate national territory! Where is your resolve!




lol your country had its chance and it did nothing. Put up or shut up.

Why would China attack? You started the patrol. It's up to you guys to do something about China militarizing and building artificial islands. The onus is on US to fire the first shot.

 

[Viva_Viet]

Wow, more fun in SCS (east Vn sea)....Mr. Xi just promise 5 year support plan to VN and hope VN will help CN to brake US's containment, and what Mr.Obama will offer Vn next ??