Posted on 10/27/2015 10:29:02 AM PDT by lbryce
A U.S. guided-missile destroyer sailed close to one of China's man-made islands in the South China Sea on Tuesday, drawing an angry rebuke from Beijing, which said it had tracked and warned the ship and called in the U.S. ambassador to protest.
SNIP
Washington's move followed months of deliberation by the administration of President Barack Obama and could ratchet up tension in one of the world's busiest shipping lanes and increase strains in U.S.-China relations.
A U.S. defense official said the Lassen also went within 12-mile limits of features in the disputed sea claimed by Vietnam and U.S. treaty ally, the Philippines. They said such "freedom-of-navigation" patrols were expected to become more frequent.
The U.S. destroyer sailed within 12 nautical miles of Subi Reef, an artificial island built up by China in the past year.
A Chinese guided-missile destroyer and a naval patrol ship shadowed and gave warnings to the U.S. warship "according to law", China's Defense Ministry said. It said the military would take necessary steps to protect the country's security.
The U.S. patrol was a "coercive action that seeks to militarize the South China Sea region" and an "abuse" of freedom of navigation under international law, it added.
U.S. Defense Secretary Ash Carter on Tuesday confirmed the patrol. Carter, testifying to the Senate Armed Services Committee, initially would only say the U.S. Navy had conducted operations in the South China Sea. But under questioning from lawmakers, he confirmed that the USS Lassen had passed within 12 miles of a Chinese artificial island.
"China will resolutely respond to any country's deliberate provocations," the ministry said in a statement that gave no details on precisely where the U.S. ship sailed.
(Excerpt) Read more at reuters.com ...
Obama would better heed ancient Chinese proverb.
Mess with angry dragon and end up with third degree butt burn.
Uhh, is China supposed to be intimidated by the buttmuncher in chief or something? Obunghole may draw a red line in the water.
Obama is going to be shamed into doing something really stupid soon. Never back an arrogant, ignorant, racist community organizer into a corner.
What worries me is not the threat of the Chinese. I am worred that the Chinese will realize they could sink that ship and Obama would spend a trillion dollars to make sure it was an open see accident. They hit an iceburg! Rogue Wave! Meteorite! Defective ship!
Under no circumstance would Obama retaliate, acknowledge or rebuke China. Hell, he’d be the one to call China to make sure they got their stories staight.
Hey, you got it wrong. It was a movie -— The China Syndrome.
I agree, Obama will do something stupid. Stupid is as stupid can be.
China “shadowing” our destroyer?
Time to dump the head tanks overboard.
No, he woulda done that already. Oh wait. He has. Nevermind.
That movie is on a decades old Blacklist. Jane Fonda appears in it.
This time he’s going to get a great number of young men and women killed. That or he’ll drop a nuke. I don’t put that past him.
Obama is trying to get Americans killed. Eventually our military will say enough is enough.
Admiral Josh Painter: This business will get out of control. It will get out of control and we’ll be lucky to live through it.
Sailed through? They should have anchored off the island/shoal and launched a helicopter or two.
This Chinese Military Area! Go Now! You been here foah houah arleady! You go home, Yankee Running Dog!
A weak attempt (that could trigger WWIII) by Hussein to show he's as tough as the next guy.
Take it to the bank, that a USN sub is nearby long with carrier task force.
Cant just make artificial islands and expdct people to recognize new territory boundaries. Especially not in disputed areas.
oBUMMER deliberately wants a PUEBLO.
If he wanted to out do a Pueblo, why not a carrier? Fully equipped of course. Political prisoners optional.
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