world

Aggressive Chinese territorial claims bring risks: U.S. general

49 Comments

The requested article has expired, and is no longer available. Any related articles, and user comments are shown below.

© (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2013.

©2023 GPlusMedia Inc.

49 Comments
Login to comment

Ah, and there we have it. When all is said and done, who do these countries call on the phone? China apparently hasn't learned squat. If people don't trust you, they'll go to someone that has at least a much better record of assistance than the one who actually is a bully in big britches.

9 ( +10 / -1 )

It's really amazing that China conceivably had a chance at becoming the "Asian leader" but blew it completely. Nobody in Asia trusts China anymore.

17 ( +22 / -5 )

If he is correct, then Japan needs more than Ospreys. It needs drones, piloted by someone who works 8 hours a day from Tokyo. The USA military is notorious for false information and scare tactics.

-6 ( +2 / -8 )

It's really amazing that China conceivably had a chance at becoming the "Asian leader" but blew it completely. Nobody in Asia trusts China anymore.

Agreed. It's a sign of political and social immaturity, in my opinion. China seems desperate to 'prove' itself to the world and it's neighbours, and instead of doing this in a stately and mature manner, it's behaving like a long bullied schoolchild with a litany of serious issues who carries them into young adulthood.

14 ( +17 / -3 )

Chinese people per se are not the issue. It is the government. I often wonder why we trade and empower them with our money. We chastise them on one had and then hand them a fortune with the other. What message does that send them? We don't like what you are doing but we will give you money anyways. Awful human rights record, bullying everyone around them and oppressing their own people. Sounds like people we should invest in... I think not.

8 ( +10 / -2 )

OssanAmericaJul. 30, 2013 - 07:12AM JST It's really amazing that China conceivably had a chance at becoming the "Asian leader" but blew it completely. Nobody in Asia trusts China anymore.

Huh? Anyone who underestimates China's ability to learn quick lessons and adapt to change of political and econonic climate will be disappointed. China has proven itself to be a shrewd and cunning competitor in the global economic and political landscape, and its ability and willingness to fund money at countries that wants assistance will continue to enhance its influence throughout the region for many years to come.

-17 ( +2 / -19 )

Nobody in Asia trusts China anymore.

Nonsense. China is probably the second most trusted country in south-east Asia after the US.

-21 ( +1 / -22 )

fjp330Jul. 30, 2013 - 08:03AM JST OssanAmericaJul. 30, 2013 - 07:12AM JST It's really amazing that China conceivably had a chance at becoming the "Asian leader" but blew it completely. Nobody in Asia trusts China anymore. Huh? Anyone who underestimates China's ability to learn quick lessons and adapt to change of political and econonic >climate will be disappointed. China has proven itself to be a shrewd and cunning competitor in the global economic >and political landscape, and its ability and willingness to fund money at countries that wants assistance will continue to >enhance its influence throughout the region for many years to come.

Good luck with that. You are describing China 10 years ago. If China is so quick to learn and adapt they wouldn't be getting "contained" now would they? Politically China is as many have pointed out utterly immature and rough handed, and economically it has already reached it's peak.

Guru29Jul. 30, 2013 - 08:28AM JST "Nobody in Asia trusts China anymore." Nonsense. China is probably the second most trusted country in south-east Asia after the US.

Thanks for that.. Funniest thing I've read this entire week.

11 ( +13 / -2 )

Guru29, perhaps "was" would be more appropriate than is. I think the US has recently succeeded in demoting itself to second place.

One also wonders if the US and its military-industrial complex is trying to encourage aggressiveness on both sides of the fence in order to promote weapons sales. The US blames China so that it can sell weapons to countries with disputes with China.

-5 ( +2 / -7 )

OssanAmerica Jul. 30, 2013 - 08:44AM JST If China is so quick to learn and adapt they wouldn't be getting "contained" now would they? Politically China is as many have pointed out utterly immature and rough handed, and economically it has already reached it's peak.

Sounds exactly like Japan. Japan is already contrained by China. Japan depends on China for 21 percent of Japan's total GDP. China should reduce trade with Japan since it accounts for only 9 percent of GDP, and the vacuum can be filled by EU or U.S.

-13 ( +1 / -14 )

The lesson of "give and take" here. A broken America even Detroit City, the Tank and Armaments centre during WWII is no more. America so deeply in debt to China that some believe China holds a "controlling interest' in American 'paper' world wide now. America still flogging enriched uranium as China perfects the Thorium LFTR technologies for clean nuclear and builds a pebble bed gas reactor as we speak. America running dry on $100.00+ / bbl world price for oil runs an oil fired military it cannot afford without loans from China? Will they really jump to Japan's defence? Will they really aggravate their largest creditor? Will they really starve Americans at home, send American boys and girls to die for a few islands? Or: Will they "pay lip service" to Japan and let China have her way to avoid an engagement the u.s. cannot afford? Will the u.S. Give the islands to take the loans she needs for oil?

-11 ( +2 / -13 )

It sounds like the US is already ready for miscalculations over disputed islands.

-4 ( +2 / -6 )

Guru29, perhaps "was" would be more appropriate than is. I think the US has recently succeeded in demoting itself to second place.

Both the US and China are very influential in south-east Asia. And almost all Asean countries are wary of offending either one and try to stay neutral. That's the reason why Abe's China containment policy is bound to fail.

I will say the current territorial dispute between China and certain Asean countries has almost zero effect on the foreign relations between them even though the relations between the US and some of them have improved. Currently, only China-Philippines relation is slightly affected. On the long run, China has some advantages over the US in that it can become closer to the Asean countries through economic integration. And the fact that there are many overseas Chinese living throughout the region will make the integration even easier.

As for Japan, other than economic influence, it has almost zero political influence in the region. That's probably because the Japanese in general believe in what Koizumi and Abe told them that as long as Japan has good relation with the US, it will have good relation with any country in the world. This sounds stupid to me.

-9 ( +1 / -10 )

"the first foreign basing of the new F-35 fighter, built by Lockheed Martin Corp,"

Good grief, Obama hasn't canceled the most expensive ever boondoggle yet?!

-3 ( +2 / -5 )

OssanAmericaJul. 30, 2013 - 08:44AM JST

fjp330Jul. 30, 2013 - 08:03AM JST OssanAmericaJul. 30, 2013 - 07:12AM JST It's really amazing that China conceivably had a chance at becoming the "Asian leader" but blew it completely. Nobody in Asia trusts China anymore. Huh? Anyone who underestimates China's ability to learn quick lessons and adapt to change of political and econonic >climate will be disappointed. China has proven itself to be a shrewd and cunning competitor in the global economic >and political landscape, and its ability and willingness to fund money at countries that wants assistance will continue to >enhance its influence throughout the region for many years to come.

Good luck with that. You are describing China 10 years ago. If China is so quick to learn and adapt they wouldn't be getting "contained" now would they? Politically China is as many have pointed out utterly immature and rough handed, and economically it has already reached it's peak.

Guru29Jul. 30, 2013 - 08:28AM JST "Nobody in Asia trusts China anymore." Nonsense. China is probably the second most trusted country in south-east Asia after the US.

Thanks for that.. Funniest thing I've read this entire week.

Ossan, I cannot agree more. You are right on the money. I can feel a political climate against China here in US, and it is going down to the south.

5 ( +7 / -2 )

"... government-wide spending reduction process known as “sequestration. ...” the expression is not intelligible: Sequestration". Of rest was good news.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

" In somecases, those allies could ultimately wind up buying defense equipment from non US suppliers. but they want an increased US presence as a counterweight to China he said" AND

" Washington is also stepping up its support of foreign military sale, which the US weapon Industry is counting as to offset weaker demand in the United State and Europe"

General Herbert Carlisle, Sound like you are drumming up tension to increase US weapon sale to countries in the Asian Region

-7 ( +1 / -8 )

All of the countries that have a dispute with China should coordinate a "fly by" of all of the disputed territories at the same time. Maybe China will understand what it's going to be like trying to juggle so many balls at once with so many different players.

8 ( +8 / -0 )

SuperLibJul. 30, 2013 - 12:16PM JST

All of the countries that have a dispute with China should coordinate a "fly by" of all of the disputed territories at the same time. Maybe China will understand what it's going to be like trying to juggle so many balls at once with so many different players.

Remember, Chinese still cannot vote. This is a communist one party government not supported by people, for the people. The government is filled with corruptions. They need to clean up their own acts first if they want to earn the world trust.

The world has not forgotten the Tiananmen Square protests of 1989.

6 ( +7 / -1 )

Other than a few puppets ..the posts here show wisdom and understanding, China is NOT trusted by anyone, even those who have to do business with them. And China caused this all by itself, no one else is to blame. Outdated aggressive 19th century style imperialism just wont work in the modern world. And part of the US governnemt that is not controlled by the liberal cabal is wise in the importance of the Pacific and is ready to help support all free people in facing down the Dragon. Japan will be a pillar of strength for the entire region and is due a great vote of thanks and respect.

6 ( +8 / -2 )

Comments on any news related to China and Korea on this site can be summarised as follows:

Korea = bad

China = BAAAAD!

Japan = SHINING BEACON OF LIGHT

-3 ( +7 / -10 )

Bruce:

A quick war with China would make all those loans go away...

1 ( +5 / -4 )

OssanAmericaJUL. 30, 2013 - 07:12AM JST It's really amazing that China conceivably had a chance at becoming the "Asian leader" but blew it completely. Nobody in Asia trusts China anymore.

I wouldn't constitute Vietnam and the Philippines as the whole of Asia.

-3 ( +2 / -5 )

I don't think China cares about being the leader of Asia or anybody. Chinese only cares about China and China only cares about is own. Everybody else is not even considered in the equation. Have China ever conducted any official studies on how they like/hate the Japanese? They don't bother with that stuff because they don't care.

China only wants control over Asia, not as a leader but control. Ask any of the South American nations on whether US is the leader of Americas and the answer is a flat no. Not even Canada likes American that much.

Like what China has been saying repetitively for over several decades, it only wants Taiwan, all disputed territories back from what it perceived as its own. It only wants to feed its own people, grow and achieve as a middle class dominated hierarchy. They can careless about Japan, Korea, Philippines, or whatevers.

Its the rest of Asia that keep on harping about whether China is a leader of not. The Chinese just keep on motoring along. If you want to have a relationship with another, but the other doesn't even care or acknowledge you and your existence, you don't matter to them and your opinion don't matter to them. They will continue to do their thing and opine their position until you succumb or a conflict arises. Either way, I'm sure the Chinese are well prepared for them. Maybe they are even counting on them.

Just let it go. Japan is not a leader in Asia, in fact it never has been. Stop worrying about others and worry about yourself. This Abenomics is completely based on counting on the goodwill of the corporate to hire more domestic workers based on higher earning due to a manipulated favorable currency exchange rate. Its a must stop the bleeding move instead of a long term treatment plan to cure the problem. If the Japanese companies don't do what Abe expected or bet on doing, Japan will implode spectacularly. And I mean SPECTACULARLY.

Worry about yourselves. Please. IF Japan goes down, the US will be mightily affected. And the end result might be something you don't want to see, a shift that you really won't want in Asia.

0 ( +4 / -4 )

Shinjuku No Yaju:

I was going to post the same thing. I'm glad that I read all of the way to the end.

Anyone that thinks otherwise should consider Bayer during WWII.

Anyway, the debt to China, while large in comparison to what is in my bank account, is only about 7.5% of total US debt. This is around 1.2ish trillion USD. With a 16ish trillion USD of value generated every year in the USA, I'm not really sure that they are in a position to do much to push the USA around on that front. In fact, the Pentagon suggested in a 2012 assessment that using the debt as a weapon would have very little practical impact and would do far more damage to the USA than to China. I'd think that China would be more concerned about the value of its investment. 1.2ish trillion USD is worth a far bigger chunk of China than it is the USA...

4 ( +4 / -0 )

Aggressive moves by China to assert territorial claims run the risk of “miscalculations” but are also helping Washington strengthen ties with other countries in the region, the general who oversees U.S. air forces in the Pacific said Monday.

What is the cheapest and easiest way of making the Asian pivot and making itself desired? By fanning flames of distrust using its allies as agents to increase territorial tensions and then make the excuse to move in aggressively. Who is bluffing whom? We have seen this in the Middle East and North Africa where its supporters were the West European countries and the Arab League. In Asia it is Japan and The Philippines. Fear-mongering makes these countries very useful in America's vain attempts to control China's rising military might and economic influence. It would be very interesting for Russia to pivot into Asia as well since the Americans are also professing that Japan owns the Kurile Islands. Let the Games begin!

-3 ( +2 / -5 )

These generals are really something they make it up the ranks by selling this popuganda.... hahahaha. The major threat to the world is the American regime.

-4 ( +1 / -5 )

Guru29Jul. 30, 2013 - 08:28AM JST

Nobody in Asia trusts China anymore.

Nonsense. China is probably the second most trusted country in south-east Asia after the US.

Lest we forget Tibet? China is mad for natural resources and how to take control of by whatever means at their disposal to achieve what they consider being in their own best interests. The American military in its assessments are correct, and have sent a clear message to China that they must start to behave. If allowed to continue, they will be even bolder, and more aggressive in their thirst for whatever in their minds is necessary regardless of a countries sovereignty. Trust China? How? By their recent agressive posturing? Nope don't think so!

5 ( +6 / -1 )

noriyo73 If he is correct, then Japan needs more than Ospreys. It needs drones, piloted by someone who works 8 hours a day from Tokyo. The USA military is notorious for false information and scare tactics. ............................

Drone does not use pilot.

-2 ( +1 / -3 )

Redcliff, I think the same thing. Need to sell more weapons and enrich those who own stocks in the military industrial complex. Like Major General Smedley D. Butler said in his speech, (find it in U-Tube), War is a Racket. China is persistent about these islands because they belong to China. Even Japanese professors Tadayoshi Murata, (Yokohama National University), and Kiyoshi Inoue, (Kyoto Daigaku), agree that they belong to China. It is probably the other way around. Can not trust the mainstream media anymore.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

@noriyo73: Your idea of get more drones is good: Now I am going to write what drone is......

An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), colloquially known as a drone, is an aircraft without a human pilot on board. Its flight is controlled either autonomously by computers in the vehicle or under the remote control of a pilot on the ground or in another vehicle.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Good luck with that. You are describing China 10 years ago. If China is so quick to learn and adapt they wouldn't be getting "contained" now would they? Politically China is as many have pointed out utterly immature and rough handed, and economically it has already reached it's peak.

alliances and foes changes over time. in this century, US had been allies then foes then back to allies again (and vice-versa) with Japan, Germany, China, India, Soviet Union (now Russia), Iraq, Iran, Italy, etc. this musical chair game will continues. only ones benefiting are US weapons manufacturers. also, 10, 20, even 50 years is not that long of a time in China's history. I think their government has a 70 yr plan set up.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

If China wanted to call in its loans to the US.. the US can "print" its way out of debt, basically giving the chinese worthless currency. Of course it will ruin the US economy and who buys tons of chinese goods? the US...

Will China harm its biggest buyer? doubtful..

1 ( +1 / -0 )

A quick war with China would make all those loans go away...

you are talking about China, not Iraq or Afghanistan. any war, quick or long, will make not just the loans go away. it'll make a good % of humanity disappears as well.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Drone does not use pilot.

Educate yourself. The drone is un-manned because it does not have a person in the cockpit, but it is remotely controlled by a human being miles away. So yes it does have a pilot, just not in the drone.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

toshikoJul. 30, 2013 - 10:08PM JST

noriyo73 If he is correct, then Japan needs more than Ospreys. It needs drones, piloted by someone who works 8 hours a day from Tokyo. The USA military is notorious for false information and scare tactics. ............................

Drone does not use pilot.

Toshiko san , you are CORRECT!

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

In the future, UAVs may be able to perform a variety of unique tasks apart from what they are capable of today. Engineers are currently working to produce remotely piloted UAVs that are capable of air to air combat, aerial refueling, combat search and rescue with facial recognition, and resupply to agents on the ground.[85] Design and development considerations[edit]

UAV design and production is a global activity with manufacturers all across the world. The United States and Israel were initial pioneers in this technology, and U.S. manufacturers had a market share of over 60% in 2006, with U.S. market share due to increase by 5–10% through 2016.[86] Northrop Grumman and General Atomics are the dominant manufacturers in this industry on the strength of the Global Hawk and Predator/Mariner systems.[86] According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, Israeli companies were behind 41% of all UAVs exported in 2001-2011.[87] The European market share represented just 4% of global revenue in 2006.[86] Development costs for American military UAVs, as with most military programs, have tended to overrun their initial estimates. This is mostly due to changes in requirements during development and a failure to leverage UAV development programs over multiple armed services. This has caused United States Navy UAV programs to increase in cost from 0% to 5%, while United States Air Force UAV programs have increased from 60% to 284%.[88

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

Drones still use pilots which sit at a base and remote-control them and their systems and weapons like in a videogame.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Lest we forget Tibet? China is mad for natural resources and how to take control of by whatever means at their disposal

Using Tibet for fear mongering won't help as these south-east Asian countries have long accepted Tibet and even Taiwan as part of China.

Even western countries such as Great Britain accepted Tibet as part of China centuries ago as this is what the Tibetans told them in the 1700s when they traveled to Tibet for the very first time via India.

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

Using Tibet for fear mongering won't help as these south-east Asian countries have long accepted Tibet and even Taiwan as part of China.

Even western countries such as Great Britain accepted Tibet as part of China centuries ago as this is what the Tibetans told them in the 1700s when they traveled to Tibet for the very first time via India.

Yea, but the question is: do Taiwanese and Tibetans see themselves as part PRC?

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

Many drones( electric) have durability of more than 200 hours. Remotely, such as satellite operated. Drones are everywhere in the world. For example.Japan used to learn Fukushima damage using drones.

Now back to Asia, Japan and other SE Asian countries are getting together. China may become nicer to other Asian countries. Not trigger happy US initiative but .......

1 ( +1 / -0 )

toshikoJul. 31, 2013 - 01:03AM JST UAV design and production is a global activity with manufacturers all across the world. The United States and Israel were initial pioneers in this technology,

The UAV information is nothing but cut and paste from the website. Why don't you put into your own words.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

@slip330: Why don;t you write your own analysis instead of asking me to write my opinion. OK, I will wrote some that is not secret. One drone has 52 flying hours. One has 252 flying hours. One is controlled by satellite. How about yours?One organization chose 52 hours flying hour drone because this one will be using for commercial use.Many companies get sales propositions,

1 ( +1 / -0 )

toshiko Jul. 31, 2013 - 05:42AM JST One drone has 52 flying hours. One has 252 flying hours. One is controlled by satellite. How about yours?One organization chose 52 hours flying hour drone because this one will be using for commercial use.Many companies get sales propositions,

Drones might be less effective in surveillance gathering in the open seas such as South China Seas and East China Seas compared to land surface. Flying drones have limitations with hours of flights. Especially in the South and East China Seas, the game changer is for U.S. is to have effective underwater drones. Technology under consideration by the military is that Navy hopes its drones will eventually pilot themselves across oceans. The vehicles are already used to detect mines and map the ocean floor and, with tweaks over the next few years. The underwater drones will be applied more to intelligence gathering, and in the more distant future, anti-submarine warfare. With the advance alternative energy sources, particularly fuel cells, it is close to achieving a fully independent drone that can stay out for couple months. With the tight federal budgets, the Navy sees drones as a cost-effective way to extend the reach of its submarine fleet.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

US General tries to mediate but China is not interested in negotiating, It is not only Japan but also Philippines and other countries have territorial dispute. Japan seems to create Great Asian Unification block. It seems China will isolate itself. Also, S. Korea will be alone. China and N, Korea are together. So, USA General has to worry. Which one? I feel Great Asian Unification. USA has to support..

1 ( +1 / -0 )

highball7Jul. 30, 2013 - 04:58PM JST

I don't think China cares about being the leader of Asia or anybody.Chinese only cares about China and China only cares about is own. Everybody else is not even considered in the equation. Have China ever conducted any official studies on how they like/hate the Japanese? They don't bother with that stuff because they don't care.

China only wants control over Asia, not as a leader but control

Your analysis is very objective and I am very impressed. Thank you.

What China wants to do is to control the entire Sea of Asia for natural resources and international maritime commerce. That's how they are. China is now claiming natural resources in the North Pole among US, Russia, Norway, UK. I think this is beyond me as China is not even sharing territories there, not even close. But again, they do not care. They will go after the world natural resources as they have nothing to lose. China just does not care how others think of them. They CANNOT see us.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Yea, but the question is: do Taiwanese and Tibetans see themselves as part PRC?

yes, given time. just like the majority of native american indians see themselves as part USA. their situation was much worse than the tibetans. native american population was 20+ million back then. now less than 1 million.

-2 ( +1 / -3 )

maglev101Jul. 31, 2013 - 10:33PM JST

yes, given time. just like the majority of native american indians see themselves as part USA

NO,NO, NO. maglev, you've got everything screwed up here.

They never feel they are a part of PRC. Please go back and understand their fights against PRC in history for decades. I normally let a little misunderstanding go, but I had no choice.. This is a very sensitive issue for both Taiwan and Tibet. And I found your comment like this is very insulting to them.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

bannedacctsamJul. 30, 2013 - 04:33PM JST

OssanAmericaJUL. 30, 2013 - 07:12AM JST It's really amazing that China conceivably had a chance at becoming the "Asian leader" but blew it completely. Nobody in Asia trusts China anymore.

I wouldn't constitute Vietnam and the Philippines as the whole of Asia."

Do you count Japan as part of Asia? A recent poll showed only 5% of Japanese trust China. How about India and Indonesia? I doubt if China's trust is all that high in those countries. In fact all the polls I have seen indicate that China is not all that trusted not only in Asia but in most of the world as well. In such polls China only scores fairly well in countries that have had very little to do with China. China regularly complains about its "tarnished image" and blames other countries for that, but in fact China brought it upon itself for a great number of reasons (its aggressiveness and bullying, its reputation for producing unsafe food and shoddy products, its dismal human rights record, its suppression of any dissent, its media censorship, its pollution and corruption foremost among them). Interestingly enough, the foreign perception of Chinese people in most countries is fairly high, while its government scores very poorly.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

Login to leave a comment

Facebook users

Use your Facebook account to login or register with JapanToday. By doing so, you will also receive an email inviting you to receive our news alerts.

Facebook Connect

Login with your JapanToday account

User registration

Articles, Offers & Useful Resources

A mix of what's trending on our other sites