U.S. Navy to guard 'freedom of navigation' in Asia

Yes, China is looking at Arctic resources. So is Russia and, a surprise to no one, so is the US. What's your point, that the US doesn't like the competition from China?

Let me repeat again, in your own words:

"claim an interest in a part of the globe in which they have no landed interests whatsoever."

China and US are both just doing the same things, whether it be the Arctic or the South China Sea.

taro67: What propaganda have I published?

http://www.japantoday.com/member/view/taro67

Because you do not like a perspective that does not glorify American "exceptionalism" doesn't mean that it is propaganda. Have you ever considered that the idea of American "exceptionalism" is itself propaganda?

Oh, is this what we were talking about? I thought the topic was the US's decision to present a position that navigation lands should be open for free use. Have you been having a secret debate with me behind my back? :)

@taro67

You act as if the US is conning the Filipinos and Japanese into letting them set up bases. I should point out that if the US completely left the Pacific region, these nations which fall under the umbrella as you put it would feel much less safe, they want the US there.

We're not stupid.

That's debatable. What propaganda have I published? Name one thing that is not an historical fact. Because you do not like a perspective that does not glorify American "exceptionalism" doesn't mean that it is propaganda. Have you ever considered that the idea of American "exceptionalism" is itself propaganda?

"One of the reasons we deploy throughout the region is so we can carry forth the banner of freedom of navigation. It is very important to us given the trade that travels throughout the region on the seas,”

-Captain Gregory Fenton said.

...that's too funny! I guess in the closet of the carrier washington there is a banner of war that they raise when they attack another country.

Taro67> Not threatened by this article in the least. Just trying to add a little perspective to the "US is Asia's only hope against the evil Chinese" meme (or soft-power propaganda).

You really are reading a lot into the article and people's comments. Some people said they support the move to present a position that navigation lanes should be free for all. You can't publish pages of your own propaganda then actually expect people to sit back and believe that you're just a guy looking to add some "perspective." We're not stupid.

It seems pretty clear that some of China's claims are quite strong; in particular, that to the Paracel Islands, for which there are historical accounts of Chinese use of the islands from the seventh century Tang dynasty era, about 800 years before there is mention in Vietnamese records of the 15th century.

It would be nice to see countries behave more like mature adults in trying to resolve the disputes in as objective, fair and amicable a manner as possible with respect to all relevant international law conventions.

Okay. can you find a route for a Thai-centric captain to transit from Phuket to Bankok ?

Who has threatened to shut down any waterway to Thai captains? For that matter, who has threatened to shut down waterways to American captains? It looks like the US is creating threats of sea lane closures out of thin air. Who is it trying to impress? Other than you?

Oh, and by the way, the 17,600 Km. route goes through the South China Sea.

Inconvenient, not essential...except to the US-centric mind.

Okay. can you find a route for a Thai-centric captain to transit from Phuket to Bankok ? Using the Strait of Malacca it's about 2,600 Km., the alternate route using international waters is 17,600 Km.

It is in fact the only sea lane available to transit from the Indian Ocean to the Pacific without going completely around Indonesia, thousands of miles out of the way, and is one of the busiest and most important sea lanes in the world. Also, the U.S. maintains a naval station in Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean, under agreement with the U.K., so transit through the South China sea and Straits of Malacca for U.S. warships is essential.

Inconvenient, not essential...except to the US-centric mind.

The US deploys lots of firepower to protect its own interests around the world. And it should, otherwise there are many currently friendly nations which would tell it to go take a hike.

Meanwhile, only the US is talking about anyone closing any sea lane. It is like a mobster standing on a street corner in his "protected" neighborhood, thumping his chest and declaring that he will keep the street open. What happened to the "speak softly" part of the US foreign policy?

*Oh, and here's a hint: Straits of Malacca.

The US owns this? While it is a convenience, it is not the only sea lane available*

It is in fact the only sea lane available to transit from the Indian Ocean to the Pacific without going completely around Indonesia, thousands of miles out of the way, and is one of the busiest and most important sea lanes in the world. Also, the U.S. maintains a naval station in Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean, under agreement with the U.K., so transit through the South China sea and Straits of Malacca for U.S. warships is essential.

Taro, it is very easy to say the USA is evil, the white man just wants to divide and conquer the yellow man in Asia, but look at Vietnam, look at the Philippines and they are ASKING the USA to come back, to make bases in their countries, is this just our imagination?? Or is it the big, hungry, Chinese dragon breathing down the necks of it's Asian neighbors, including us here in Japan??

usa will come even if you don't ask...e.g. iraq, afghanistan. yellow, brown, black, red men beware.

Taro, it is very easy to say the USA is evil, the white man just wants to divide and conquer the yellow man in Asia, but look at Vietnam, look at the Philippines and they are ASKING the USA to come back, to make bases in their countries, is this just our imagination?? Or is it the big, hungry, Chinese dragon breathing down the necks of it's Asian neighbors, including us here in Japan??

When the US comes to save Japan or Philippines, the Chinese spy on this forum start bringing the issue of the past.

Sure. If you oppose the US strategy to isolate China you are, therefore, a Chinese spy. This is from the US playbook. The truth is that it is the US and, before that, the Europeans, who stirs the pot in Asia for their own benefit.

What you accuse me of is offensive. My allegiance is with Japan which is now caught in the middle of another US scheme. If war breaks out because of the US actions, US cities will not be affected but Japanese cities will be. Japan, and all of the US surrogates in Asia, are simply beachheads for the US. Whether the US wins or loses an Asian war, all Asians will will suffer. Its time for all Asians to build their own community instead of acting like renters of the Americans.

Everyone seems to assume that Asia would all be Chinese territory except for the loving presence of the US. This is a tribute to US propaganda. Meanwhile, the animosity created in Asia by the US soft-power tactic has eliminated any real diplomatic relations with China by all of the US surrogates (including Japan and The Philippines).

Indonesia gets it. It refuses to allow the US to put a wedge in its economic relationship with China. Does this make Indonesia more likely to be threatened by China or the US?

Elbuda MexicanoOct. 26, 2012 - 06:43PM JST

The Filipinos have been screwed by about every power in Asia, including the US.

lostrune2Oct. 26, 2012 - 08:07PM JST

Yes, China is looking at Arctic resources. So is Russia and, a surprise to no one, so is the US. What's your point, that the US doesn't like the competition from China?

Taro, an article like this really shouldn't be that threatening to you.

Not threatened by this article in the least. Just trying to add a little perspective to the "US is Asia's only hope against the evil Chinese" meme (or soft-power propaganda).

Has is not occurred to anyone that the US provokes China in order to force more Asian nations under the US security umbrella? The US has a stated goal of isolating China in about every means available (TPP free trade, Air-Sea Battle (not a video game but a war plan against China which has been activated), calling China a currency manipulator when the US is purposely devaluing the USD in order to increase exports, etc.).

This is all too familiar to Japanese who were the subject of the same strategy back in the late 30s/early 40s and even in 1985 (Plaza Accord). Iran (Chinese surrogate) is threatened by the same strategy.

The Chinese aren't stupid. They know the history of US manipulation and are responding. Sadly, some of the response plays into the US strategy.

Mang.. hope theres not a war between China and US/their allies, anyone ever did any research on what the S Korean and American war vets had to say when they fought with the Chinese Army during the Korean war? Endless Human waves which sometimes resulted with army battalions and companies being encircled. Many UN forces had the luck of using aerial support since they had air supremacy back in that time but what about now?

Claiming almost the whole of the South China Sea is silly. When will China realize that?

Except, perhaps, threatening warships from foreign nations who, incredibly, claim an interest in a part of the globe in which they have no landed interests whatsoever.

Oh, like this?

http://www.easternodyssey.com/in-depth/item/635-the-arctic-resource-grab-chinas-claims-on-the-arctic

Maybe in ancient times, Arctic peoples paid tribute to the Dynasties, who were closer to the equator than the north pole, heheheh.

The Filipinos were screwed by the Japanese Imperial Army! The USA with Gen. Mc Arthur promised to come back and kick out the Japanese Army, the USA did that and the good people of the Philippines will never forget who helped them in their times of need so China needs to learn that if they mess with the Philippines they also be messing with da USA, so no good for China to be messing around too much in the Pacific Ocean!! Chinese in the Philippines are also easy targets for Filipinos to take for ransom to get easy $$$$ so my guess is that this will only increase if Beijing don't respect Manila!!!

It is definately a great event in military history for China's anti-ship ballistic missiles to get 'fame' with an easy target sailing so close and so near to her maybe last voyage! Hey, the Chinese garriosn is out there....! What are they waiting for in the Philipines?

Sailing a 'coffin' in the south china sea is definately a good target for PLA navy submarine force, we have a nest of submarines ready to take out this silly thing afloat! Why did america has never rescue her EP3 crews detained in hainan island back in 2001, because awaring the torpedoes from Chinese navy!

@ viking 68

Everyone is in international water no one is infringing into others territories. I am not sure what you are trying to communicate.

@taro67

Your comments is justified.

@ SuperLib

The Philippines need a big brother to look over and after them. The US used to have a base in the Philippines but departed due to the local pressures and now they want the US back. I suppose they should make up their mind one way or the other.

Well, they are in international waters and NOT Chinese waters. Good for them.

That is quite a large distinction from Chinese puppet fishermen (spy boats with crypto communication gear), coast guard vessels, and outright fighting vessels intruding on the territories of the Philipeans, Viet Nam, Japan (submarines running within the waters of Okinawa (I don't need to mention the new island disputes to put Chinese war vessels in Japanese waters)), etc.

When the US comes to save Japan or Philippines, the Chinese spy on this forum start bringing the issue of the past. This is to divert the attention to USA hate..And China fish in the muddy water... Beware of the China and spy network of them in the propaganda mission.

Weak political leaders running their countries had been make use by the US to their advantages only. Sorry filipinos!

Taro, an article like this really shouldn't be that threatening to you. It's natural for the Philippines to move closer to the US if it suits their interests. And they might even appreciate what the US is doing for them. You might want to start coming to terms with that.

Guam says hello.

One does not have to go through the S China Sea to get from the US to Guam. Guam is of little consequence to Americans (except the military, of course). One US congressman was concerned about the transfer of additional troops to Guam because he was afraid it would tip the island over.

Oh, and here's a hint: Straits of Malacca.

The US owns this? While it is a convenience, it is not the only sea lane available. One would think that diplomacy and not warships would be the best, safest, and most economical guarantor of access to that passage. Perhaps America should try that and save the world a lot of grief and bloodshed.

But only if there are people still alive who were affected by those policies.

Estimates range as high as 1.5 million civilians killed, more than the total dead during the 300 years of Spanish occupation. It would be difficult to argue that anyone who is alive today has not been affected by this tragedy due simply from the lost opportunity of their dead ancestors.

It is a myth that the US is morally superior to anyone. It is an opportunist regime that lies, deceives, assassinates, extorts, massacres, and oppresses as well as anyone. And, yet, China is Asia's newest bogeyman from which the US must protect everyone. Some Chinese laugh while making the observation that while China is becoming more like the US ideal (more freedom, more opportunity, etc) the US is becoming more like Mao's China (internal security, loss of freedoms, growing government labor force, etc).

My apologies. Thank you for your answer. I suppose I have no point to make, only sad observations. War may be coming to Asia again.

Oh, and one more thing:

in order to justify its existence in Asia

The US doesn't have to justify anything at all. These are international waters, open to all. Just as the Chinese and Russians love to park subs off the US coasts, we're free to due the same to them. Except in our case, we have more stuff to park.

Except, perhaps, threatening warships from foreign nations who, incredibly, claim an interest in a part of the globe in which they have no landed interests whatsoever.

Guam says hello.

Oh, and here's a hint: Straits of Malacca.

Does the USA owe The Philippines an apology for the massacres and its "bayonet rule" during its colonial period?

Considering that it was an official policy, then yes. But only if there are people still alive who were affected by those policies. Otherwise, there's not point.

Did I missed the big news that a country is planning to block the sea lane

Exactly. The US feels the need to make such pronouncements from time to time in order to justify its existence in Asia. There is no motivation for China to block the sea lanes in the S China Sea. Except, perhaps, threatening warships from foreign nations who, incredibly, claim an interest in a part of the globe in which they have no landed interests whatsoever.

Did I missed the big news that a country is planning to block the sea lane.

DeploreOct. 26, 2012 - 12:17PM JST

Does the USA owe The Philippines an apology for the massacres and its "bayonet rule" during its colonial period?

And sorry, I neglected to quote this line from @peanut666 post.

Why is America there? This is why:

Given the history with the US and China, the Filipinos could go either way. No one is their savior. They are all merely opportunists, friendly at times, and absolutely evil at times. You will celebrate today because America sees opportunity in helping the Filipinos. And yet, you will deny or obfuscate the evil the US has done to the Philippines

Who are you talking to? I know I at least learned in high school of the US atrocities in the Philippines after it became a colony. Even so, the US and the Philippines have a history that I would say is, on balance, more positive than it is negative. The US kicked out the Spanish, introduced several beneficial policies, and kept its promises by liberating it from the Japanese.

Why is America there? This is why:

Sure, read this before you get too giddy with patriotism.

http://philippineamericanwar.webs.com/balangigamassacre1901.htm

Given the history with the US and China, the Filipinos could go either way. No one is their savior. They are all merely opportunists, friendly at times, and absolutely evil at times. You will celebrate today because America sees opportunity in helping the Filipinos. And yet, you will deny or obfuscate the evil the US has done to the Philippines. Okinawans also know both sides of America.

Boy that video was a tough one to watch, peanut. The news article 'slip' is similar to how some there see Okinawa. The Philippines, Taiwan, Okinawa, etc., are all just little islands in China's seas.

Why is America there? This is why:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DWJPoDj7onU&feature=related

Absolutely a great move by America!

Here is a news article regarding China's land grabbing:

http://www.manilatimes.net/index.php/news/top-stories/22595-china-tv-claims-philippines-as-chinese-territory

I don't think that the news person made a mistake. I think she really meant it, but retracted it because too many people outside of China heard it.

This is an appropriate move by America. Its the only country powerful enough to stand up to Chinas 21st century imperialist land grab. Before 10 years ago the various countries in the south china sea were coexisting peacefully and then China realised there was oil to be had.

"United States was not taking sides in territorial disputes but stood firmly for keeping sea lanes open."

In other words the U.S, will not allow China to take the entire South and east China Seas by force.