[lentulusgracchus]

What matters now is what is China's intentions today. Obviously, China has greater leverage today than she did durnig the Korean War, the War with India and I even with Russia. But today, China is trying to settle those disputes.

Yeah, by telling the US to vacate the Western Pacific. Including Japanese waters.

Hardly sounds like a nation making waves does it?

In fact, that's exactly what it sounds like. Just like Benito Mussolini in the 1930's, talking about Mare Nostrum and telling the British to withdraw their Mediterranean squadron. That's exactly what it sounds like.

[ponder life]

China's goal isnt' to get the US to vacate the Pacific. Most of the Pacific ocean is international waters. But there lies the key word, "international waters". If the US can operate carriers in the Pacific, why can't the Chinese? The Chinese and US navies already operate throughout the Pacific, except the Chinese don't have any carriers. Chinese subs, frigates, destroyers, etc. already operate in the same waters without firing a shot. The Pacific ocean is a big ocean and there is room for everyone. Ever seen an aeriel view of a carrier on the Pacific ocean? It looks like a postage stamp.

You claim the Chinese have intentions of pushing the US out of the Pacific. But the reality is, your fear of China having a carrier means you want to deny China the right to operate carriers in the Pacific. From the Chinese perspective, you want to contain China. And that is a very sensitive topic in China, even amongst ordinary Chinese, and that is containment or the thwarting of China's rise.

Just as many American's fear China's rise, the Chinese fear American containment.