[alloysteel]

This is just a little drum-beating and saber-rattling to let some expansionist entities keep in mind that outside force does exist that could thwart those plans. More than anything, the exercise is directed at competing factions in the Middle East and possible insurrections that threaten to erupt there.

China will not brook interference with the flow of oil to their country, as they have a growing demand for energy, and sending a land assault to secure an assured flow is well within their scope. They have the manpower, they have the incentive, and in large part, they have the logistics to support such an adventure. And they have wasted precious little love on Muslims.

[spanalot]

"And they have wasted precious little love on Muslims"

Nor on the 50 million of their own they slaughtered. That murderous culture has to go.

[Jeff Head]

IMHO, the message is clearly directed at the US over the issue of Taiwan. That's why the word "separatism" is thrown in there. In that area, they are currently building the Navy and the logistics to support such an operation soon. They are not up to it as yet for any area outside of the inner island chain.

But they are planning and building to be able to extend it to the 2nd chain in as near a future as they can.

[RightWhale]

We are not accepting rationality today, but thank you for your participation.