Meanwhile..... In the South China Sea.

a reply to: Zaphod58

Don't get me wrong. I've learned volumes from your post. But you do develop (excuse me this is one of my favorite words) a supercilious attitude at times.

Peace man!!!!

I look forward to and respect your post please return the favor.

a reply to: seagull

Almost as soon as they made the changes to their Constitution, Indonesia, Turkey, Vietnam, and the Philippines came knocking, checkbooks in hand.

a reply to: Zaphod58

True mate. My comment was directed more towards the tpic than past issues wih Japan. I was mre related to the general issue of the Spratlys. Japan stands a better chance than the Philippines or Vietnam but not alone.

a reply to: Zaphod58

...and they should. If there's a nation on Earth capable of the weaponry of the future, it's Japan. If I were an Asian nation? I'd go shopping there, too. Not China. Not Russia.

I don't think Japan is capable of second rate. Not any more.

a reply to: seagull

Honestly that is also my best resolution of events. But that means force projection and Japan is still a little ways away from that. I truly believe Japan and Taiwan could meet any type of Chinese Naval threat. The problem with that is regardless of the outcome Taiwan has significantly more to lose.

a reply to: Greathouse

For now, anyway.

The stuff I've heard they're getting ready to field is as good as anything the US has, and better, for the most part, then anything China has.

Japan can't take China on their own. That's true. But Japan, Taiwan, South Korea, Vietnam, perhaps even Australia, and certainly the US...India, too, has a rooting interest in the outcome of this sort of fight. That's a sword of a whole differing metal.

China has to know this. They can not believe that they could win that sort of fight.

a reply to: hoagy1199

I believe many people may have the region confused. So I'm going to post a map of the South China Sea. Does everyone notice Japan is nowhere near it?

a reply to: Greathouse

The issue revolves around the islands China is "building" up. The other issue revolve around the Exclusive Economic Zone.

The islands China is building are considered, by China and only China, as sovereign territory, which violates the UN Charter and international law / treaty.

Secondly China views their Exclusive Economic Zones as sovereign territory also, which again is not supported by the UN / International law. An EEZ only allows a country to claim the resources under the water while shipping and air traffic above would be considered in international waters / airspace.

China is thumping their chest wile ignoring the fact international law / UN Carter doesn't support their claims. The area in question see several trillion dollars of trade pass through the area yearly.

a reply to: seagull

I feel the same way. In your post the 500 pound gorilla in the room is India. If I remember right they have the seventh or eighth largest Navy, a aircraft carrier, 1 billion people and a deep historical hatred for China. Yet they are rarely mentioned?

a reply to: seagull

It's going to be slow to convince them to trust Japan again, but it's a start.

The equipment they're interested in is top line, and I'd love to see some of it in our inventory. They've learned a lot by joint building Aegis, the F-15, and the F-1/F-2.

a reply to: Zaphod58

Japan is slowly attempting to build an alliance with Vietnam and the Philippines

Although China and Vietnam have had it's moments in the past it is more like a sibling argument ,but Japan was a brutal relationship and the history is still fresh in the Vietnamese minds . Japan would have some very big wounds to heal in that relationship .

a reply to: the2ofusr1

China and Vietnam fought a war against each other with the Chinese loosing. I think it is something other than a brotherly squabble.

a reply to: Greathouse

Thank you for posting the map. I have it somewhere on my computer but couldm't find it quickly enough. Still, looking at the map, territorial or EEZ neither fall in what China claims other than centuries old maps which they ignored until resources were found there. Not to mention the fishing grounds around the reefs.

Have one on me...

originally posted by: the2ofusr1
a reply to: Greathouse

Well thank goodness that that area of the earth has a long long history to refer to .Sad that the Pentagon took their CNN news spin crew to craft the new rhetoric on the area and who is disputing what and with who .I guess the regional powers both small and great can either enter into dialog and come to a agreement . No need for a foreign power as aggressive as the Americans to enter into it unless they want to start another conflict . China is on the grow and has lofty ambitions to include nations within it's sphere . imo

I would say that China is planning on "tibetting" south east Asia if they think they can get away with it.

The sick man of Asia really wants some pay back on Japan, that is without question.

They beat the , remember what the Japanese did in WW2 drums every chance they get.

originally posted by: Patriotsrevenge

originally posted by: Zaphod58
a reply to: Greathouse

They occasionally allow it. They weren't doing anything sensitive.

It's still a non story. Japan flies in the area, China warns and intercepts them. China flies in the area Japan warns and intercepts them. We fly in the area China warns and intercepts us. It's almost a weekly event.

If anyone would actually watch the video CNN did, they would see how out of line China is. They grabbed a few small Tropical reefs and destroyed them by dredging then pumping sand onto them Dubai style to make a new Military base close to the Philippines and way way far away from mainland China. For them to boss anyone around from that area, is purely uncalled for.

It would be like the U.S. claiming an Island off Russia and building a base there.

This the way I see it as well.

China is looking like they plan to expand in the near future.

a reply to: the2ofusr1

They do, but it's becoming who is the bigger threat now, as opposed to who did what then. Vietnam and others are realizing that without help they're in a lot of trouble.

a reply to: Greathouse

I doubt China has forgotten about India.

They, not China, are the coming global power. As I understand it, and I'm no expert, within my lifetime, and I'm fifty-one; India could supplant China as a global power, and perhaps, though the jingoist in me doubts it, the US.

800 lbs. gorilla, indeed. More like a big ol' Bengal Tiger at a cat show...

originally posted by: Greathouse
a reply to: Zaphod58

Don't get me wrong. I've learned volumes from your post. But you do develop (excuse me this is one of my favorite words)

a supercilious attitude at times.

Peace man!!!!

I look forward to and respect your post please return the favor.

Lol, you used supercilious in a sentence!!!!

a reply to: Greathouse

Because we are stupid enough to think we are the 911 of the world. So we race in and cause more trouble instead of fixing anything. Kinda like when the cops show up at your house and shoot the dog,terrorize the kids,and beat up your spouse. I guess we see where they got that from.

originally posted by: Greathouse
a reply to: seagull

Honestly that is also my best resolution of events. But that means force projection and Japan is still a little ways away from that. I truly believe Japan and Taiwan could meet any type of Chinese Naval threat. The problem with that is regardless of the outcome Taiwan has significantly more to lose.

Ain't that the truth, china has been foaming at the mouth over that island for decades now.

If Taiwan ever engaged in naval warfare with china, I honestly think the Chinese would drop the hammer.