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Chinese Navy Confronted USS Kitty Hawk
NewsMax ^ | 1/16/2008 | Staff

Posted on 01/17/2008 10:34:20 AM PST by mojito

A Chinese attack submarine and destroyer confronted the U.S. carrier Kitty Hawk and its battle group in the Taiwan Strait, sparking a tense 28-hour standoff that brought both sides to a battle-ready position.

The American ships were heading to Japan following China’s sudden cancellation of a scheduled Thanksgiving port call in Hong Kong when they encountered the Chinese vessels, according to the Navy Times, which cited a report in a Chinese-language newspaper in Taiwan.

The Times reported that the encounter caused the carrier group “to halt and ready for battle, as the Chinese vessels also stopped amid the 28-hour confrontation.”

The encounter ended without incident, however, and the U.S. ships continued on to Japan. The two Chinese vessels were also headed for a port call in Japan.

The Chinese destroyer, Shenzhen, is armed with anti-ship missiles, while the Song-class attack sub is equipped with anti-ship missiles and a variety of torpedoes.

China has expressed “grave concern” to the U.S. over the Kitty Hawk’s transit through the Taiwan Strait, the Times notes. Beijing claims Taiwan is Chinese territory.

But Admiral Timothy Keating, head of the U.S. Pacific Command, told reporters Tuesday: “We don’t need China’s permission to go through the Taiwan Strait. We will exercise our free right of passage whenever and wherever we choose.”

Shortly before the Kitty Hawk battle group was denied entry to Hong Kong, China had refused safe harbor for two U.S. Navy minesweepers seeking refuge from a storm.

As Newsmax has reported, some U.S. politicians have rung alarm bells about China's increased military spending and technological revamping of its armed forces.

China’s military budget had an average annual growth rate of nearly 16 percent from 1994 to 2004, and China's reported 2006 military budget is about $35 billion, according to Beijing.

But Pentagon sources have said these numbers fail to demonstrate the true scope of the growth, and the real 2006 figure could be as much as $105 billion.

In recent years China has upgraded its nuclear-tipped intercontinental ballistic missiles; bought state-of-the-art warships, fighter planes and submarines from Russia; and begun development of a number of so-called "asymmetrical" weapons, including informational warfare and anti-satellite systems.

In November, Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda warned that China’s continuing military buildup could eventually pose a “major threat” if the Chinese government decides to exercise its power.


TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: china; navair; taiwan; unitedstatenavy
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Some follow-up on some recent posts on interesting developments in the Taiwan Strait.
1 posted on 01/17/2008 10:34:22 AM PST by mojito
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To: mojito
“to halt and ready for battle

I don't believe this...I can't see a battle group drifting around for 28 hours..with a chink sub and destroyer in their mist

Now going to flank speed and ready for battle I'd believe

2 posted on 01/17/2008 10:38:09 AM PST by Robe (Rome did not create a great empire by talking, they did it by killing all those who opposed them)
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To: mojito
If this report is accurate, it sounds like the Chinese are getting pretty defensive and trigger-happy for some reason. It definitely makes one wonder why.

If we cause "grave concern" by going through the Taiwan strait, is there some reason things are about to heat up there? Maybe something we aren't supposed to see?

3 posted on 01/17/2008 10:39:30 AM PST by Sender (Feel like, I feel like a poke chop san'wich)
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To: magslinger

First China, then Iran. Time to bring the Iowa and New Jersey back.


4 posted on 01/17/2008 10:41:05 AM PST by neodad (USS Vincennes (CG 49) "Checkmate Cruiser")
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To: All
Uss Kitty Hawk
5 posted on 01/17/2008 10:43:09 AM PST by Squidpup ("Fight the Good Fight")
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To: neodad

What for? Target practice?


6 posted on 01/17/2008 10:44:25 AM PST by ASA Vet
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To: Sender

This is about the time we ought to be slipping a few hundred nuclear mines to our friends on Taiwan, all of them labeled ‘Made In North Korea’. LOL


7 posted on 01/17/2008 10:46:36 AM PST by mkjessup (Where's Duncan Hunter you ask? BLACKLISTED for telling the truth on the "KENNEDY WING of the GOP!")
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To: Squidpup

old picture...the f-14’s and a-6’s have been retired...are they still flying the s-3?


8 posted on 01/17/2008 10:49:30 AM PST by joe fonebone (When in danger, when in doubt, run in circles, scream and shout)
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To: Robe

I wonder which of our SSN’s sneaked up behind them and changed their minds for them.


9 posted on 01/17/2008 10:54:07 AM PST by EricT. (The tree of liberty needs to be watered...)
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To: mojito

Don’t forget what those bastards did with our spy plane (pre-9/11). When in doubt, do what the USS Vincennes did.


10 posted on 01/17/2008 10:59:08 AM PST by Niteranger68 (Proud to be a FREDNECK!!!)
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To: Squidpup

Man, you’d think some of those fighters could catch-up to that Hawkeye they’re chasing.


11 posted on 01/17/2008 10:59:17 AM PST by 1rudeboy
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Comment #12 Removed by Moderator

To: mojito

This reads like the “same old sub” incident story in regard to the Kitty Hawk that has been ciculating for years....


13 posted on 01/17/2008 11:06:10 AM PST by in hoc signo vinces ("Houston, TX...a waiting quagmire for jihadis.")
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To: mojito
When the USS George Washington CVN-73 replaces the USS Kitty Hawk this year it should be home ported at Kaohsing.

Tell the PRC to KMA.


14 posted on 01/17/2008 11:06:14 AM PST by ASA Vet
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To: mojito
We don’t need China’s permission to go through the Taiwan Strait. We will exercise our free right of passage whenever and wherever we choose.”

I like the cut of this man's jib!!!
15 posted on 01/17/2008 11:16:43 AM PST by steel_resolve (If you can't stand behind our troops, then please stand in front...)
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To: in hoc signo vinces
This reads like the “same old sub” incident story in regard to the Kitty Hawk that has been ciculating for years

Except this time it is being reported in Navy Times

http://www.navytimes.com/news/2008/01/kyo_china_080115/
16 posted on 01/17/2008 11:17:36 AM PST by The Lumster (USA - where the innocent have nothing to fear!)
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To: mojito
Buried in the article.....

But Admiral Timothy Keating, head of the U.S. Pacific Command, told reporters Tuesday: “We don’t need China’s permission to go through the Taiwan Strait. We will exercise our free right of passage whenever and wherever we choose.”

Shortly before the Kitty Hawk battle group was denied entry to Hong Kong, China had refused safe harbor for two U.S. Navy minesweepers seeking refuge from a storm.

This was a message being sent.

17 posted on 01/17/2008 11:31:15 AM PST by wbill
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To: joe fonebone

S-3’s have been converted to tankers. I believe they are still flying


18 posted on 01/17/2008 11:36:34 AM PST by Dutch14 (The last one out of the circus has to lock up everything...)
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To: mojito

Old news

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1954459/posts

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1954381/posts


19 posted on 01/17/2008 11:37:44 AM PST by baclava
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To: ASA Vet
When the USS George Washington CVN-73 replaces the USS Kitty Hawk this year it should be home ported at Kaohsing.

Another liberal Wikipedia entry. The country is listed as "Republic of China (Taiwan)"

20 posted on 01/17/2008 11:46:39 AM PST by Tatze (I'm in a state of taglinelessness!)
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