The Chinese Communist are idiots.
They have done something that would have been unthinkable 15 years ago....unite the nations of the Western Pacific.
1. Japan has amended it pacifist constitution.
2. India’s Navy is now undertaking operations outside the Indian Ocean.
3. There are now routine naval exercises with the US, Australia, Japan, Vietnam, Philippines and India.
4. Vietnam have invited the US back .
5. The Philippines have invited the US back.
6. Vietnam and the Philippines have had joint exercises.
7. For the first time since 1945, Japan has a carrier task force and is considering building a jet capable CV.
8. Australia is modernizing it submarine fleet.
9. Taiwan has been invited as observers in military exercises.
10. Every Western Pacific nation is increasing military spending.
The Beijing Communists’ “Hard/Hard” strategy isn’t scaring other nations into compliance, it just increases their resolve.
They have done something that would have been unthinkable 15 years ago....unite the nations of the Western Pacific.
1. Japan has amended it pacifist constitution.
2. India’s Navy is now undertaking operations outside the Indian Ocean.
3. There are now routine naval exercises with the US, Australia, Japan, Vietnam, Philippines and India.
4. Vietnam have invited the US back .
5. The Philippines have invited the US back.
6. Vietnam and the Philippines have had joint exercises.
7. For the first time since 1945, Japan has a carrier task force and is considering building a jet capable CV.
8. Australia is modernizing it submarine fleet.
9. Taiwan has been invited as observers in military exercises.
10. Every Western Pacific nation is increasing military spending.
The Beijing Communists’ “Hard/Hard” strategy isn’t scaring other nations into compliance, it just increases their resolve.
I don't see how. It's not as if a coalition of neighbors is about to attack and dismember China. China's recent maneuvers are completely logical in the context of any country bent on territorial expansion - small scale shoving matches that attempt to avoid the cost of full-fledged war, while making incremental gains. It's not particularly novel, but not particularly stupid either. If you were part of the inner sanctum in Beijing, given China's (presumably expansive) territorial goals, how would you proceed? By going to the UN? Note that the relationships among China's neighbors aren't worth they're not written on (i.e. they're not mutual defense treaties) and the conditions under which they will intervene to assist are very very nebulous. Will India help to defend a Vietnamese oil platform under attack by the Chinese Navy?