Speaking at a news conference today, Secretary of Defense Ash Carter appeared to support reports that the US will soon conduct “operation” in the South China Sea, saying US warships will go wherever international law allows, without exception, at “the time and place of our choosing.”
Officials have suggested that the “freedom of navigation” operation has already been confirmed, which amounts to sailing someplace just to prove they can. The ships are to be sent off the coast of artificial islands constructed by China in the South China Sea.
The US has been angrily condemning China for creating islands out of reefs near the contested Spratly Islands, though international law makes it clear that the creation of such islands is perfectly legal. China has warned against violation of their territorial waters.
The artificial islands don’t extend the territorial waters, though China and other nations in the region dispute exactly where their respective waters overlap. The US has made a policy of backing all such claims, except for China’s, and seems eager to sail through primarily to show up the Chinese government in their region.
Tough-guy talk. Boring, predictable, empty.
and ultimately very dangerous, I would think.
Imagine if a Russian submarine with Nuclear weapons on board insisted in sailing into NY harbour and then arrogantly proclaimed "well go where ever we want". Do you think we would view that as a provocation? What if China took it upon themselves to be the policeman of the shipping lanes in the Atlantic Ocean off the East coast and/or the Pacific Ocean off the West coast??
What kind of blooming belligerentt asshole neocon morons do we have in our government and military??
One with big, brass stones and a pea brain.
What if one of them founders in the shallow water?
China has nothing to worry about. If the Repugs falter in
raising the debt ceiling, the USG will need China to buy
more of its paper money to stay afloat.
Er … "Raising the debt ceiling" means allowing the Treasury to issue more "paper" for China (or someone else) to buy. If the debt ceiling isn't raised, there's no new "paper" to offer (although previously sold bonds, etc. might be sold between holders — but that money doesn't go to the US government, it just changes whom said government is obligated to repay).
Let's see now…. Libya has fallen apart. Iraq is half a country falling apart. Syria is a failed mission. Afghanistan is heading for a total loss. Ukraine is a mess. Yemen, Somalia, North Korea, Kosovo, Georgia…. Still threatening Iran daily but, might as well start a fight with China.
Too many balls in the air Ash?
As usual, the US's arrogance and hypocricy is showing again. The US took over the island of Diego Garcia starting in the 60's and made exiles of all the people who were living there. They now remain impoverished in the Seychelles and Mauritius, never to return to their homeland.
In the meantime, the US has developed the island into a major base for warplanes, warships, and warriors, and couldn't care less for the people they have banished from their island.
And Washington has the audacity to criticize China for developing some artificial islands, thousands of miles from the US, and no threat to the US. This should remain an issue for China and the nations in the region, not the bullying Americans.
Not questioning what you say, Jason, but could you give us a link to " international law makes it clear that the creation of such islands is perfectly legal"? I'd like to be able to read some the legal issues themselves.