China senses a window of opportunity with Obama that would definitely close if a Republican is elected in 2012. Whether they are confident enough about their military expansion to fully exploit it is another question entirely.
The refit of the ex-Varyag in itself is not that significant. The ship’s engines work, but there is no airwing and recent photos have surfaced that indicate they are now installing at least one catapult — which is going to mean at least a couple more months of yard time before they can button her back up and send her out to sea.
My gut feeling is they’re bluffing now. They can squawk and talk, but they don’t “quite” have the weight to do much yet. And hey, bluffing’s cheap.
Why don’t they just buy it?
"By the way, this assertion is now extended to include the East China Sea, much to the consternation of Japan."...
Oh, and the Pacific Ocean too!
Which would cause consternation in the United States were the Americans not too preoccupied with such niceties as protecting darter snails from mean oil company executives, extending welfare to illegal immigrants, electing politicians who just can't do without expensive jet planes to entertain family and friends, completing the work of the 60s hippies--not to mention borrowing more money from China to finance another spending spree--that sort of thing.
That's the decadent 21st century Americans for you! "Borrow more money!"
Meanwhile, the hard working, ascendant peasants (one of whom had been her slave) became richer and richer, bought up more and more of her land, until they kicked the old lady off her throne and wound up living in the old dowager's palace!
Man! If anybody understands the cycles of ascendancy and decadence it's the Chinese!
And if anybody can't learn from history (and thus gets to repeat it) it's the decadent 21st century Americans!
Okay for now, but if you don't have the money, you can't buy the firepower.
East Sea ping....
Japan has the second-best Navy in the world and growing. Today, even the Indian Navy would challenge China at sea...though the littorals of the South China Sea are more challenging for them.
Of course, the USN transits and lingers at will, unchallenged by all.
The only advantage China has in the South China Sea is the fact they can put 100's of aircraft into the mix from their land bases...but those are not sufficiently capable to take on the USN or Japanese AAW resources.
No, China is blustering simply because nobody has told them to STFU.
I KNOW how such things were handled when Reagan was POTUS. We would hold Naval exercises for 3-4 weeks just outside the 12 mile limit and DARE the bad guys to come out and play. We still have that capability.
I know most here won't be bothered by this, but I for one cherish civilian control of our diplomatic contacts.