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© (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2015.China says it could have seized other islands in South China Sea but has shown restraint
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bass4funk
That would have been very difficult to do with a US destroyer blocking its way. Once again, the paper dragon speaks.
Wakarimasen
Another step closer to an "accidental" clash in the SCS.
nath
This is like a bully saying 'you should be thankful I don't beat you up, because I could'.
Ridiculous.
Kazuaki Shimazaki
@bass4funkNOV. 17, 2015 - 03:32PM JST
And what would one American destroyer do when multiple ships attempt landings? It can't block them all, so either it lets some through or it conducts an act of war on its initiative.
China is being a bully here, but this point is problematic.
bass4funk
You're missing the bigger point. Do you think the US has ONLY ONE destroyer??? How many ships, destroyers, battlecruisers and aircraft carriers do the Chinese have? The US doesn't have to fire any shots, but a heavy Naval presence could give China some serious pause.
nandakandamanda
China is entirely confident in the power of its navy, too confident in fact. Chinese people have been brought up on the concept of Chinese missiles taking out US aircraft carriers. The problem, and Chinese and US leaders know it, is too much aggression on both sides could easily spark off war, beneficial to no-one.
sf2k
China will now claim it owns the world due to history of Pangaea
Kazuaki Shimazaki
@bass4funkNOV. 17, 2015 - 04:17PM JST
In the South China Sea, the Americans are operating in a region where the Chinese can flood the airspace with as many fighters as their bases will support (in the range of several hundred if they are determined). But the bigger problem is will. If any American destroyers cannot open fire, the Chinese will just stream around them and land on the islands.
And if the Americans DO open fire (unlikely), the Chinese have at least a 50% chance of making it out to be American aggression or at least disproportionate response. The West has allowed the Chinese to get into their heads too much, and while they may consider Chinese ideas of "sovereignty" inferior, it is at least defensible to the American zeitgeist. In that, Chinese propaganda has been successful.
Matthew Stennett
Wow; isn't that NICE of them ?
Azzprin
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Protecting the enviroment by turning a reef into a 3,000 meter air strip.
.
bass4funk
Then the US can scramble within a few hours their fighters F-16-18 and perhaps the F-22 as well, which are better, faster, and deadlier, also another point you have to factor in is, how prepared is China really for ANY military conflict? When was the last time they were in a real war and not just a few domestic internal dust up?Since the 2nd WW.
They can land, but that is not the issue. The problem is, they won't be able to block other ships from passing if the US will maintain a presence there with ships and Nuclear Subs.
There doesn't need to be any conflict, but China is out of its mind if it thinks it can claim a section of that ocean as their territory.
To a point that's true and I don't think China has to take any aggressive stance, if it just doesn't do the foolish thing of blocking and not allowing another sovereign nation to sail through international waters. There are many things you can do to make sure the Chinese know that every country has the right to through this area.
Exactly, just mind boggling! Essentially, they turned that area into a giant aircraft carrier.
lostrune2
Could've kicked ya in the nuts, but I just punched you in the face since I'm showing some restraint
Viva75
Absolute idiots.
Sentiments
And yet another foot in the mouth comment from China. How is it possible to keep repeating such statements over time? It struck me the other day that if everyone else is regarded as ignorant, then the comments from China would seem reasonable. Could it be that Chinas government has taken on the great emperors views from old?
Xenjy
To me, that sort of statement made by the Chinese government makes them seem like terrible bullies. I hope this news spreads far and wide throughout the globe. What a stupid thing to say.
SenseNotSoCommon
OK, everyone... 1... 2... 3... KOWTOW TO THE MAGNANIMOUS MANDARINS!
turbotsat
China's 100-year plan probably includes stretching the red curtain over Kyushu, Honshu, and Hokkaido. I mean, why not?
genjuro
I wonder what Russia's stance on this and what they think of their fellow BRICS member acting aggressively. This doesn't bode well for stability in the region, and I'm sure Russia is aware of this.
globalwatcher
Bwhahahaha..... Classic! China now want to play a victim card. The world knows China's wrong doing. Clean up your act!
Black Sabbath
Great restraint? Right.
More like the 7th Fleet.
globalwatcher
turbotsatNov. 18, 2015 - 01:26AM JST
They already have claimed mineral rich North Pole is their territory, even though China is not even sharing border. So funny.
turbotsat
That's got to be some kind of gerrymandering. Little strip up through the Bering Strait.