Australia Prepares Option of Sail-Through to Test ChinaAustralia Prepares Option of Sail-Through to

Wall Street Journal ^ | October 28, 2015 | Rob Taylor

[lbryce]

Australian defense planners are looking at the possibility of a naval sail-through close to China’s artificial islands in the South China Sea, in case the government decides to follow its close ally the U.S. in testing Beijing’s territorial claims.

“Australia has been looking at options,” said one official in Australia’s military familiar with operational planning.

The official spoke after the American guided-missile destroyer USS Lassen sailed early Tuesday within 12 nautical miles of Subi Reef, one of seven sand and rock outcrops in the Spratly chain on which China has built artificial islands. The U.S. considers the area international waters, and fears China is trying to enforce territorial claims and gain greater control over major shipping lanes.

Another defense official, who has been involved in a military blueprint about the South China Sea for Australia’s Defense Minister Marise Payne, confirmed that plans for possible naval operations or flights by maritime patrol aircraft had been prepared, though said there is no immediate intent to put them into play. “At this stage, it’s only been looking at what we could do,” the second official said. The military had been looking at options including a sail-through for months, the person said, as tensions in the South China Sea intensified.

Ms. Payne didn’t address a question by The Wall Street Journal on Wednesday about whether Australia has plans under way to test China.

[lbryce]

Australia as an Asia-Pacific regional power wants to make a stand as well along with the US as China's artificial islands and it's illegitimate territorial claims directly impacts Australia as naval power in the sphere of possible conflict.

[thackney]

This should also be a concern to Japan as a lot of oil passes this way to them.

[mikefive]

This will affect the Philippines also. Most people here don’t realize the dangers the Chinese present. I live outside of the old Clark AF base, which is now an international airport, and they don’t realize that if it comes to a shooting war, that Clark will either be seized or bombed by the Chinese to prevent the US from using it. Same with Subic Bay and the international airport in Manila.