What you say is true;
But did the North Koreans think this way when they sank a South Korean ship?
Did they suffer at all for it in any way?
Might they do it again?
And what, pray tell, benefits did the US receive from sending 40 ships to India to tag along with our President?
Wasn’t that symbolism only?
But much less dramatic and of much less value than a visible missile launch just off our shores that “lit up the sky”?
Could it be China telling us that if we attack their currency, as we are doing now this very week with O at the big G-20,
then they might some day do this to us?
Just speculation.
The 34 warships report was dismissed as bogus by the Indian and US governments. If the US wanted to send a message to China, it would have sent warships to the Bay of Bengal where China has more interests, not the Arabian Sea.
About China wanting to send a message-sure they would like that. But nobody speculating on that wants to address the risks that such a reckless missile test would have from the start. What if it veered off course or blew up in mid-air or the sub was detected???? Air Traffic outside L.A is not exactly as sparse as that in the mid-Pacific. Besides one such missile launch doesnt in any way make operational sense. A Chinese SSBN would only conduct operational patrols within reach of PLAN facilities.
If I were the head of the PLA, a test of an anti-satellite missile or a salvo launch of ICBMs from sea or land facilities which could target most American cities, would send a very clear message to Washington. Without any of the risks involved in an adventure off L.A.
The North Koreans, Chinese and Iranians have perfected an art-form, stepping to the brink of the abyss and making the West blink before stepping back. The North Koreans were almost certain that South Korea wouldn’t retaliate for the Cheonan sinking for a host of reasons-most important being that South Korea is unlikely to risk war anytime soon.