I'm starting to think this region is more volatile than even the Middle East.
you be wrong, China won't go to war any time soon. We have a very strict time line, we are waiting for quite a few system to roll off the assembly line and for our economy to be able to properly support our men. So the closest date would be around 2020, and by then our economic and political power may very well be enough to take care of things without force.
The middle east is very different, rich, poor, or destitute, it's always war. There is no long term planning, there's just no planning period, from the look of things.
There's nothing wrong in providing political, economic and moral support to the leadership in the Philippines, Vietnam and all other parties that want to resolve the maritime row diplomatically. The Chinese side should approach this pragmatically as well.
No, there isn't, but what makes you think China definitely wants war. Having said what I said, do you doubt our ability to rain death on any ASEAN nation without suffering much in return.
In terms of coast guard moves, we can do more, I seen calculations, and Chinese coast guard tonnage pretty much equals Japan + ASEAN combined. But we don't, is that not a signal.
For all the talk of aggressive China, we could be doing so much more.
Bro as much as i sympathise with Vietnam's position in spratlys islands case/dispute. I must say you people should be realistic as well. Of course the U.S is looking out only for its own interests, why wouldnt it? Every country is only out for their own interests(philippines included). If you people want the U.S to intervene and shed its blood(and pput its own territory/economy in danger as well) for Vietnam/philippines, then you people have to first solve your problems among yourselves, afterall, Philippines and Vietnam still claim the same islands as well, same with Taiwan, Vietnam, Philippines , Malaysia, Indonesia etc, you all have competing cliams with each other one way or another. So why will the U.S intervene to help you people when you cant even help yourselves/solve your issues among yourselves? If you people had solve your disputes among yourselves, then it will be much more easier for the U.S to look at things from a China vs YOU ALL perspective, but as of now, its not the case and there wont be any direct intervention from the U.S no matter the situation(that's something im sure about).
So get your acts together first among you people, that will be a good first step to face china later and more pragmatically. Else you people are not much different from China, since you all seem to be looking out for yourselves/own interests instead of acting for each other/as a group. That doesn't help things. No hard feelings though. Just my 2 cents.
You pretty much hit the nail on the head, this is why China doesn't give a damn about ASEAN as a strategic bloc, they got more problems with each other than with us.
Sooner or later they will come to terms with the fact they can no more stop China as they can of stopping a tornado, then the in fighting will begin in earnest.
See China right now don't have enough prestige to justify capitulating to us, but we soon will, when we surpass the US in economy and vastly improve our military both in spending and capability, to go with a vastly improved living standard.
But they will never see fit that they should surrender to each other. Vietnam think it's the big dog, while Indonesia thinks it's all that, Malaysia wants control while Singapore looks at them like savages. Philippines is proud for accomplishing pretty much nothing, ever, Cambodia and Laos don't like Vietnam, let's not forget Thailand is also pretty vain(look at that "carrier," only carrier to not have aircraft) and where the hell is Brunei.
It's like asking the French to see Germany as the undisputed power, or vice versa, or for them all to accept UK. I mean you guys can all accept the US, but how many will accept each other?
But yes the U.S is all our DADDY(well for now).
Imagine of they had the power of say China or Japan, by the words of one Vietnamese member on here(VIET), they would have long conquered invaded even China, Japan and all of south east Asia.
