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Furious China Summons U.S. Ambassador, Slams Decision To "Threaten Peace" With Warship Challenge
Zero Hedge ^ | 10/27/2015 | Tyler Durden

Posted on 10/27/2015 8:51:42 AM PDT by SeekAndFind

Update: CHINA SUMMONS U.S. AMBASSADOR OVER SOUTH CHINA SEA PATROL: CCTV

Well, the USS Lassen sailed within 12-nautical miles of Subi Reef and surprisingly, World War III did not break out overnight. 

(USS Lassen)

(Subi reef)

Nine months of tension between Washington and Beijing over the latter’s land reclamation efforts in The South China Sea culminated on Monday with President Obama’s decision to send a guided missile destroyer to China’s man-made military outposts on a “freedom of navigation” exercise. As we put it on Monday evening:

"The ball is now squarely in China's court. The question now is whether Beijing will back down and concede that "sovereignty" somehow means something different with regard to the islands than it does with respect to the mainland or whether Xi will stick to his guns (no pun intended) and take a pot shot at a US destroyer."

In short, some feared that based on recent rhetoric out of Beijing (e.g. the PLA will “stand up and use force”) that China might actually fire upon the US-flagged vessel or at least move to surround it in what might mark the first step on the road to war. 

Ultimately, that didn't happen as China apparently decided to take the high road for now and avoid an escalation that might have had far-reaching consequences. 

That said, Beijing isn't happy. Here's more from Bloomberg

China said it will take “all necessary measures” to defend its territory after the U.S. sailed a warship through waters claimed by China in the disputed South China Sea, a move the government in Beijing called a threat to peace and stability in Asia.

 

“The behavior of the U.S. warship threatened China’s sovereignty and national interest, endangered the safety of the island’s staff and facilities, and harmed the regional peace and stability,” Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang said in a statement today. “The Chinese side expressed its strong discontent and firm opposition.”

 

The comments came hours after the USS Lassen passed within 12-nautical miles of Subi Reef, an island built by China as a platform to assert its claim to almost 80 percent of one of the world’s busiest waterways. By passing so close to the man-made island, the U.S. is showing it doesn’t recognize that the feature qualifies for a 12-nautical mile territorial zone under international law.

 

The patrol marks the most direct attempt by the U.S. to challenge China’s territorial claims and comes weeks after President Barack Obama told President Xi Jinping at a Washington summit that the U.S. would enforce freedom of navigation and that China should refrain from militarizing the waterway. 

 

In a strongly-worded statement, Lu said the USS Lassen had “illegally” entered Chinese waters and that “relevant Chinese departments monitored, shadowed and warned the U.S. ship.” China has “indisputable” sovereignty over the Spratly Islands and surrounding waters, Lu said.

 

“What the U.S. is doing now will only damage the stability in the South China Sea, and send the wrong message to neighboring nations such as the Philippines and encourage them to take some risky behavior,” said Xu Liping, a professor of Southeast Asian studies at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, a government-linked institute.

While it's not entirely clear what professor Xu Liping means by "encourage the Philippines to take some risky behavior," it's worth noting that Washington's provocation is in some respects explicity designed to embolden America's regional allies. That is, this isn't going on in Washington's backyard. This is simply the US responding to calls from its friends in the South Pacific to counter what they view as Chinese aggression by letting Beijing know that Big Brother isn't going to stand for any bullying from the PLA. That gambit appears to have paid off - for the time being.

As for what comes next, Malcolm Davis, an assistant professor in China-Western relations at Bond University on Australia’s Gold Coast tells Bloomberg China could move to set up a no-fly zone:

China may choose to respond without directly challenging U.S. ships with its Navy or coast guard. It could declare an Air Defense Identification Zone over the South China Sea, or speed up the militarization of the area by deploying extra forces, including combat aircraft, to the islands. 

 

“The ball would then be back in the U.S.’s court,” Davis said. “A Chinese attempt to enforce an ADIZ over the South China Sea would increase tensions with its neighbors, most notably Vietnam, the Philippines and Malaysia, and they would place increasing pressure on Washington not to back down.”

In other words, China doesn't need to fire on a US destroyer to ratchet up the pressure. Beijing can simply continue to do what it's done up until now; that is, militarize the region and essentially dare the US to take action beyond sailing by and waving. 

We suspect we'll see plenty of new satellite images over the coming weeks and months which purport to show the extent to which the PLA is beefing up its defenses in the face of unnecessary (not to mention extremely petty) posturing on Washington's part.



TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; Front Page News; Russia
KEYWORDS: china; navy; russia; tylerdurden; tylerdurdenmyass; usa; warships; zerohedge
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1 posted on 10/27/2015 8:51:42 AM PDT by SeekAndFind
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To: SeekAndFind

Let’s put a row of drilling platforms off the Chinese coast, call them “man-made islands,” and tell China we assert a similar territorial right.


2 posted on 10/27/2015 8:54:57 AM PDT by sphinx
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To: SeekAndFind

One of the reasons the world is so prosperous today is the US Navy guarantees access to the sea for everybody. Even North Korean ships regularly go in peace wherever they wish. If it were not for the USN every time a country had a minor dispute with a major power they’d have their ports blockaded until they capitulated. You think the world has hardship now? Live in a world where the USN can’t keep the sea lanes open. That would be hardship squared.


3 posted on 10/27/2015 8:57:45 AM PDT by Gen.Blather
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To: SeekAndFind

China should never have been allowed to get away with what it’s doing on the Spratley Islands.

We should have started a base at the same time they did. We still should.

This base of China’s is way overkill. There’s absolutely no defensive need for it whatsoever.

The Islands are as much the islands of other nation’s in the region as they are China’s.

This is merely a premeditated act based on future planned aggression. As such, it should be countered.


4 posted on 10/27/2015 8:58:06 AM PDT by DoughtyOne (It's beginning to look like "Morning in America" again. Comment on YouTube under Trump Free Ride.)
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To: SeekAndFind
So Max Baucus is going to get yelled at by the ChiComs today?

I'd like to see that.

5 posted on 10/27/2015 8:59:15 AM PDT by Timber Rattler ("To hold a pen is to be at war." --Voltaire)
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To: SeekAndFind

https://www.youtube.com/user/NTDChinaUncensored/videos


6 posted on 10/27/2015 8:59:33 AM PDT by butlerweave
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To: SeekAndFind
From the Sino-Russian Joint Statement of April 23, 1997:
"The two sides [China and Russia] shall, in the spirit of partnership, strive to promote the multipolarization of the world and the establishment of a new international order."

http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Central_Asia/HI29Ag01.html
______________________________________________________________

"Joint war games are a logical outcome of the Sino-Russian Friendship and Cooperation Treaty signed in 2001, and reflect the shared worldview and growing economic ties between the two Eastern Hemisphere giants."

http://www.heritage.org/research/commentary/2005/09/war-games-russia-china-grow-alliance

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,170287,00.html
______________________________________________________________

Sept 11, 2014

China and Russia to build major seaport: report

China and Russia will build one of the largest ports in north-east Asia on Russia’s Sea of Japan coast, reports say, in a further sign of the powerhouses’ growing alliance.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-09-11/china-and-russia-to-build-major-seaport-report/5738036
______________________________________________________________

Obama: "We Welcome China's Rise"
CBS News ^ | January 19, 2011 | Stephanie Condon
______________________________________________________________

Image and video hosting by TinyPic

7 posted on 10/27/2015 8:59:39 AM PDT by ETL (Ted Cruz 2016!! -- For a better and safer America)
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To: Gen.Blather

Exactly right.

I’ll state further that when the U. S. allowed the pirates to operate of the Somali coast, we capitulated our mandate to keep the high seas safe. IMO, that was a big mistake.

It signaled to other nations that they couldn’t count on the U. S. any longer. That was the recognition of a void.

Other nations were encouraged to fill that void.

Other nations don’t have the interests of the U. S. or the world at heart.

As you touched on, even North Korea gets safe passage under us. Think everyone will get safe passage under China?

Folks in the U. S. sometimes lose sight of the big picture. We’ve had relative peace so long they can’t imagine a time when the high seas were a treacherous place.

They need to.


8 posted on 10/27/2015 9:02:28 AM PDT by DoughtyOne (It's beginning to look like "Morning in America" again. Comment on YouTube under Trump Free Ride.)
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To: SeekAndFind
By passing so close to the man-made island, the U.S. is showing it doesn’t recognize that the feature qualifies for a 12-nautical mile territorial zone under international law.

Exactly the opposite.

By staying more than 12 miles away, the U.S. is recognizing it as Chinese territory. To show that you do not recognize it as territory you would go well inside the 12 mile area.

Obama's next step will be to apologize and blame it on Bush.

9 posted on 10/27/2015 9:02:51 AM PDT by Bubba_Leroy (The Obamanation Continues)
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To: SeekAndFind

Kabuki with warships... What could go wrong?

10 posted on 10/27/2015 9:03:23 AM PDT by mrsmith (Dumb sluts: Lifeblood of the Media, Backbone of the Democrat/RINO Party!)
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To: DoughtyOne

>>China should never have been allowed to get away with what it’s doing on the Spratley Islands.

We should have started a base at the same time they did. We still should.

This base of China’s is way overkill. There’s absolutely no defensive need for it whatsoever.

The Islands are as much the islands of other nation’s in the region as they are China’s.

This is merely a premeditated act based on future planned aggression. As such, it should be countered.
<<

If Reagan was POTUS they would not have tried. They might have under either Bush but no way would this event be an issue.

China, like the rest of the world, accurately sees obozo as weak and spineless.


11 posted on 10/27/2015 9:03:40 AM PDT by freedumb2003 (Don't mistake my silence for ignorance, my calmness for acceptance, or my kindness for weakness)
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To: Timber Rattler

...So Max Baucus is going to get yelled at by the ChiComs today?....

If Obama gets yelled at, he’ll surrender and give them Alaska and throw in California.


12 posted on 10/27/2015 9:05:17 AM PDT by Sasparilla
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To: freedumb2003

Exactly. Like a petulant child, they push until there is resistance. Will China every meet reasoned resistance?

Not with milk-toast presidents they won’t.


13 posted on 10/27/2015 9:06:27 AM PDT by DoughtyOne (It's beginning to look like "Morning in America" again. Comment on YouTube under Trump Free Ride.)
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To: freedumb2003
China, like the rest of the world, accurately sees obozo as weak and spineless.

Obama basically shares the same 'new international order' vision with the ChiComs and Russia: weaker US, stronger them.

14 posted on 10/27/2015 9:08:32 AM PDT by ETL (Ted Cruz 2016!! -- For a better and safer America)
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To: freedumb2003
From the campaign trail, 2008...

Obama Pledges Cuts in Missile Defense, Space, and Nuclear Weapons Programs

February 29, 2008 :: News
MissileThreat.com

A video has surfaced of Presidential candidate Senator Barack Obama talking on his plans for strategic issues such as nuclear weapons and missile defense.

The full text from the video, as released, reads as follows:

Thanks so much for the Caucus4Priorities, for the great work you've been doing. As president, I will end misguided defense policies and stand with Caucus4Priorities in fighting special interests in Washington.

First, I'll stop spending $9 billion a month in Iraq. I'm the only major candidate who opposed this war from the beginning. And as president I will end it.[i.e. not win it]

Second, I will cut tens of billions of dollars in wasteful spending.

I will cut investments in unproven missile defense systems.

I will not weaponize space.

I will slow our development of future combat systems.

And I will institute an independent "Defense Priorities Board" to ensure that the Quadrennial Defense Review is not used to justify unnecessary spending.

Third, I will set a goal of a world without nuclear weapons. To seek that goal, I will not develop new nuclear weapons; I will seek a global ban on the production of fissile material; and I will negotiate with Russia to take our ICBMs off hair-trigger alert, and to achieve deep cuts in our nuclear arsenals.

You know where I stand. I've fought for open, ethical and accountable government my entire public life. I don't switch positions or make promises that can't be kept. I don't posture on defense policy and I don't take money from federal lobbyists for powerful defense contractors. As president, my sole priority for defense spending will be protecting the American people. Thanks so much.

Article: Obama Pledges Cuts in Missile Defense, Space, and Nuclear Weapons Programs:

http://web.archive.org/web/20090412030633/http://missilethreat.com/archives/id.7086/detail.asp

"MissileThreat.com is a project of The Claremont Institute devoted to understanding and promoting the requirements for the strategic defense of the United States."
___________________________________________________

I will cut investments in unproven missile defense systems.

I will not weaponize space.
___________________________________________________

Also from 2008...

2008 Pentagon Report (March 2008):
China's Growing Military Space Power

By Leonard David
Special Correspondent, SPACE.com
March 6, 2008

GOLDEN, Colorado — A just-released Pentagon report spotlights a growing U.S. military concern that China is developing a multi- dimensional program to limit or prevent the use of space-based assets by its potential adversaries during times of crisis or conflict.

Furthermore, last year's successful test by China of a direct-ascent, anti-satellite (ASAT) weapon to destroy its own defunct weather satellite, the report adds, underscores that country's expansion from the land, air, and sea dimensions of the traditional battlefield into the space and cyber-space domains.

Although China's commercial space program has utility for non- military research, that capability demonstrates space launch and control know-how that have direct military application. Even the Chang'e 1 — the Chinese lunar probe now circling the Moon — is flagged in the report as showcasing China's ability "to conduct complicated space maneuvers — a capability which has broad implications for military counterspace operations."

To read the entire publication [29.67MB/pdf], see U.S. Dept of Defense:


15 posted on 10/27/2015 9:09:27 AM PDT by ETL (Ted Cruz 2016!! -- For a better and safer America)
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To: SeekAndFind
The comments came hours after the USS Lassen passed within 12-nautical miles of Subi Reef, an island built by China as a platform to assert its claim to almost 80 percent of one of the world’s busiest waterways. By passing so close to the man-made island, the U.S. is showing it doesn’t recognize that the feature qualifies for a 12-nautical mile territorial zone under international law.

Wait....what?? By staying 12 NM away from the reef, we just gave in to the Chinese assertion that it is their sovereign territory.

16 posted on 10/27/2015 9:16:23 AM PDT by Salvavida (The restoration of the U.S.A. starts with filling the pews at every Bible-believing church.)
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To: SeekAndFind; All
We florious with you yankee!
17 posted on 10/27/2015 9:17:28 AM PDT by notdownwidems (Washington DC has become the enemy of free people everywhere)
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To: ETL

My concern too...


18 posted on 10/27/2015 9:21:28 AM PDT by GOPJ (Democrats want gun legislation? Fine. Pass a Bill outlawing 'gun free' zones.)
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To: SeekAndFind

Nuke it.

Its only purpose is to provoke war.

Declare that, nuke it, and end the threat.


19 posted on 10/27/2015 9:21:48 AM PDT by Talisker (One who commands, must obey.)
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To: SeekAndFind

>>>> ..... culminated on Monday with President Obama’s decision to send a guided missile destroyer to China’s man-made military outposts on a “freedom of navigation” exercise <<<<

What would BO do? What else can he think up to further humiliate USA on the world stage?

The very same Obama, who denied signing onto the ISIS hostage rescue mission in Iraq resulted in death of Delta Force Master Sgt. Joshua L. Wheeler.

That big world peace leader, and Nobel Peace Prize winna Buraq O’bama?


20 posted on 10/27/2015 9:25:28 AM PDT by Sir Napsalot (Pravda + Useful Idiots = CCCP; JournOList + Useful Idiots = DopeyChangey!)
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