Posted on 07/08/2010 4:28:09 PM PDT by ErnstStavroBlofeld
On Sunday near Okinawa, the Japanese navy spotted two Chinese warships sailing south into the Pacific. The Chinese vessels were in international waters, but their proximity to Okinawa, which hosts a preponderance of U.S. and Japanese military forces, alarmed Tokyo. As a courtesy, navies traditionally announce their routine cruises in advance, particularly when one nation's ships might pass close to another's territory.
Sunday's infraction of that protocol was not the first for China. Just three months prior, two Japanese warships patrolling around Okinawa had discovered an unannounced flotilla of at least 10 Chinese vessels, including two submarines. During the encounter, a Chinese helicopter buzzed one of the Japanese ships, eliciting a formal protest from Tokyo.
These and other recent incidents seem to portray China as a maritime aggressor among nations apparently unprepared to counter any move by Beijing. But Japan, for one, is quietly enhancing military capabilities that themselves pose a serious threat to the fast-growing Chinese navy. Indeed, for all China's rapid naval expansion, the strategic scales in the Pacific still tilt in favor of the U.S. and Japan -- and should continue to do so, provided the ruling Democratic Party of Japan maintains Japan's current course.
In the last decade, China has accelerated its production of large warships, aiming to replace hundreds of Cold War-era coastal patrol vessels with ships capable of traveling far from shore for extended periods of time. In addition to scores of destroyers, frigates and amphibious assault ships, China is also modifying the incomplete, former Soviet aircraft carrier Varyag for potential operational use. The DF-21 ballistic anti-ship missile, still in development, and associated targeting satellites round out the Chinese naval modernization.
Ping
But the Chinese are our friends. That’s what my TV said. It also said they are our strategic partner. I don’t understand??
Their plan is to push US forces out to “the second island chain” —bye-bye Okinawa for the USMC.
This is why a couple days ago we —for the first time ever— published those photos of nuke subs docked at 4 different Pacific locations.
This type of thing will become more frequent.
Fox News doesn’t
Those forces in Okinawa are too important to our presence in Asia. In case of a war with North Korea, those troops (about 57,000) will be needed. The Japanese realize that those troops are essential to their national security. The Japanese may complain, but they know that those troops are important.
I agree COMPLETELY.
We will bury our heads in the sand and ignore China building a blue water navy..........
Just like we did in the 1930s when japan did. Then one day, a Nimitz class carrier will blow up.
If you define a World War as all the major powers in a war with each other or as a part of an alliance, then we have actually had 7 world wars:
30 years War
Spanish Wars of Succession
Seven Years War The Napoleonic Wars
The Franco-Prussian War
WWI
WWII
If you look at the timeline they are about every 50 years. So we are over due for the last peace to no longer be relevant by new events.
What could be some of those events?
China becoming a military power comensurate with its population or Japan becoming a military power comensurate with its economic power.
In this case one may bring the other.
If you define a World War as all the major powers in a war with each other or as a part of an alliance, then we have actually had 7 world wars:
30 years War
Spanish Wars of Succession
Seven Years War The Napoleonic Wars
The Franco-Prussian War
WWI
WWII
If you look at the timeline they are about every 50 years. So we are over due for the last peace to no longer be relevant by new events.
What could be some of those events?
China becoming a military power comensurate with its population or Japan becoming a military power comensurate with its economic power.
In this case one may bring the other.
I had a history professor that came to the same conclusion about having 7 “world wars”.He also came to the same conclusion about the timeframe of wars. Very good and astute!!
They should have sunk them with a few North Korean torpedoes.
They were in international waters. A Chinese fleet can sail within 20 nautical miles of NYC and we technically cannot do anything about it.
I think the Chinese are building their navy as a ‘just in case’ scenario if the world goes up in flames because of Islamic terrorism. I remember the article that said they were planning on moving into Somali waters to deal with the piracy issue. Also, after WWII, the Chinese are testy about Japan and after colonization, they want to be able to prevent any and all foreign interference, militarily if need be.
I read once that before WWI, social scientists predicted that it wasn’t a matter of, ‘if,’ but ‘when’ a war would happen and the only unknown was what would trigger the war. All the major powers at the time had built up navies, their military, and had so many intricate alliances that one attack by even a minor country against another minor country would trigger mobilization by the greater powers.
I think that something is going to happen, but I don’t know over what and when. Who knows really.
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