China pledges firm response if Japan interferes in South China Sea

Peaceful lawful transit through international waters isn't "stirring up trouble" by any country's definition. Except of course for China who thinks these vast international waters are all within their ridiculous 9-dash line.

Japan does not have to explain to anyone why its ships are sailing through international waters. Least of all to the CCP.

Oh China. Be careful.

"we want to own the whole of everything as we claim we did at one point in history"

mmmm Na, I think I'll choose to remember the time when the Mongols were largely in control instead.

Historical claims are kind of lame, pretty much you have what you have.

Exactly how is the Izumo supposed to stir up trouble? Last time I checked it contained no offensive weapons or first strike capability? It's about as dangerous as a fishing trawler?

Fred WallaceMAR. 17, 2017 - 08:16AM JST

you have to be able to reason with china first. the only language they understand, so far, is a big stick

Belligerence, aggression, threats, from the Government of China to freedom of navigation, for vessels en-route through international waters. How long before the Government of China enforces sea air defense identification zones? If there is war, it will be because the Government of China provoked one.

MikeHMar. 17, 2017 - 08:19AM JST There is no real need for Japan to go through the South China Sea for this mission. It's only provoking the Chinese >government ....

LOL, Let's all grovel before the Chinese dictatorship.

MikeH. "There is no real need for Japan to go through the South China Sea for this mission."

A straight line through international water seems like a good solution to go Singapore from Japan. Do you want them to go Australia then come back ?!

The SC Sea is international waters, so there is no problem here. If China has some issues with SC Sea sovereignty, they should take it up with the UN or the PCA for clarification. They may even find that the PCA already ruled on this over a year ago.

If China cannot abide by global norms, then they are a pariah state like North Korea and a threat to world peace and threats to world peace are treated as such until they fall into line

China talks a lot but when the US arrives they get quiet FAST

Exactly how is the Izumo supposed to stir up trouble? Last time I checked it contained no offensive weapons or first strike capability? It's about as dangerous as a fishing trawler?

The fact that it is making this cruise in and of itself is offensive to the Chinese government.

Tell the Chinese to take a "hike"!

Communist China borrows a page from Islam. "China is seeking peace means letting China get its way". "Islam is a religion of peace (if you submit to Islam)" as shown in history.... World court decided against China illegal building islands in S. China sea, and faceless China still bullying other nations without shame. Japan can sail in international water according to real law, and not fake China's bully law.

China should know that the world is not dumb and closing its eyes. Japan should stick to the plans.

JS Izumo is not sailing close to PRC's borders, not by a hundred nautical miles. PRC's statement is lame because it's the same old saber rattling they been doing from the start and their said negotiation is not negotiating at all since their starting point is the nine dash line is PRC territory which no nation accepts.

lomaeMar. 17, 2017 - 11:21AM JST Not sure why all the bashing on China. As far as I understand, China is only stating that will take action if Japan tries >anything. The US and Japan would issue similar comments

All the bashing is because China as usual is displaying an attitude that is childish at best and hostile at worst. Both the US and Japan have had Chinese warships sail close by and neither issue such ridiculous comments. Why? Because they respect international law and have no need to state the obvious. Furthermore neither the US nor Japan claim any body of water as large as the South China Sea to be "theirs".

Just on a note on Izumo and its sister ships. Its been some time since it was last discussed in this forum but these ships are a kind of hybrids. As long as peace reigns in the area they are defensive. Butthey can be converted to small aircraft carriers quite fast should it be necessary. Most likely for f-35:s.

All I can add is talk is cheap and China is full of cheapness. In WWII Japan still had a very powerful Navy, and has ever since. One does China think that 1 carrier will win a war for them? Please...

If JAPAN "Stirs up Trouble" ; LMAO.

No story here. Japanese Ship sailing the sea ways visiting places. Clearly no hostile intent. China attempts to stir up problems yet again where none exist. Yet another wrong move by china. Situation normal.

The confrontation between China and Japan will not help to both countries. Both nations should avoid such as unnecessary confrontation between two nations.

FarmboyMar. 17, 2017 - 11:46PM JST Sending out a Japanese ship to see if it will be shot at does not seem like a brilliant idea, unless you are hoping for an excuse for a confrontation.

You actually believe China would fire upon a ship lawfully transiting in international waters? They might if the ship were from a country they thought was "lesser" than them. But China certainly would not fire upon a US, Japanese or Australian ship for fear of the repercussions. If anything it's China's ridiculous and unnecessary comment that's an excuse for a confrontation. As usual.

The Government of China so called proposed environmental monitoring station at Scarborough Shoal, is proverbially where the rock will meet the hard place.

Sanctions will be followed by the deployment of a full U.S. Navy carrier strike/battle group. Freedom of navigation to these waterways is of global economic importance.

The Government of China's intimidation, bullying rhetoric, and harassment will meet the full force of a Carrier Strike Group with the conventional/non convention capabilities not only to return these fortified sandcastles to whence thy came. but also to obliterate targets across mainland China.

The Carrier Strike Group

http://www.navy.mil/navydata/ships/carriers/powerhouse/cvbg.asp

China to build on disputed shoal in South China Sea...

http://www.reuters.com/article/us-southchinasea-china-idUSKBN16O132

FarmboyMar. 18, 2017 - 06:59AM JST You actually believe China would fire upon a ship lawfully transiting in international waters? Yes, I do, if the international waters are waters they do not consider international.

Seems you distrust China even more than I do, Which is really saying a lot, lol

there we go again

Hiro S NobumasaMar. 19, 2017 - 12:58AM JST Xi just thanked Abe for sending the Izumo to Mischief Reef. Arigatu for giving us another loud reason to justify further militarization of the rocks!

Bu shie Hua Chunying.

China smiling from ear to ear upon hearing Japanese aircraft carrier Izumo to be stationed near Mischief Reef!

Xi must be sayin " Arigatu Abe! Good timing! Now we have something to seriously talk about with Rex aside from NK!

"Now Trump will understand the need for us militarize them rocks a tad further "

I would suggest Tokyo hire someone like Ossan as an adviser stat !

Going by how things are for the Abe government on the domestic front, he may well be hoping for something like this

Xi just thanked Abe for sending the Izumo to Mischief Reef.

Arigatu for giving us another loud reason to justify further militarization of the rocks!

How is the US a threat to any country, their high tech subs can't even pick up a fishing trawler(Ehime Maru) sitting above them.

Not sure why all the bashing on China. As far as I understand, China is only stating that will take action if Japan tries anything. The US and Japan would issue similar comments if China was planning to sail a warship close to it's border. At the end of the article, it also mentions that China hopes to push forward with the negotiations for the code of conduct to maintain stability. This seems like a positive step in the right direction to me. From just reading the article it at least appears like Japan is trying to agitate the situation, not alleviate it.

Instead of resisting the inevitable rise of China, wouldn't dialogue suffice in the long run? My mind can never wrap around the rather childish approach of showing who has the biggest toy in the yard!! Ridiculous!!

There is no real need for Japan to go through the South China Sea for this mission. It's only provoking the Chinese government and a war seems inevitable. Don't be surprised if Trump pulls back from this fight stating it's between Japan and China. End product would be loss of innocent lives. Japan could have found an alternate route for this voyage. These waters are claimed by China although there are some resistance by other countries around it but clearly not disputed by Japan so why in the first place do they need to enter this area. It's just provocation. When Chinese vessels enter disputed waters then Japan are complaining like cry babies to America and yet Japan falls to such low levels themselves... such hypocrisy!