Navy to challenge Chinese claims in South China Sea

I guess we will find out just how serious China is about their claimed water rights around the Spratly Islands when the plan for the U.S. Navy to send a war ship through that region is approved.. I hope our Navy boys/girls are safe and a real contested shooting war does not happen.. Maybe allot of bluff without gun fire... maybe not..

Either way this is something the Navy needs to do if international law of the sea is to be maintained..

We will probably find out who is the paper tiger in all this, one way or the other ?
USA today was carrying this story lifted from the Navy Times:
militari.ly...

The Navy is preparing to send a surface ship inside the 12-nautical-mile territorial limit China claims for its man-made island chain, an action that could take place within days but awaits final approval from the Obama administration, according to military officials who spoke to Navy Times.

Plans to send a warship through the contested space have been rumored since May, but three Pentagon officials who spoke to Navy Times on background to discuss future operations say Navy officials believe approval of the mission is imminent.

If approved, it would be the first time since 2012 that the U.S. Navy has directly challenged China's claims to the islands' territorial limits.

Wish them the best of luck...

It needs to be done, I agree. Here is to hoping no trigger happy people are involved.

China is its own worst enemy in this case. For some reason China likes to believe that an EEZ equates into sovereign territory. They also seem to think building islands also creates sovereign territory, which it does not.

I agree - Freedom of Navigation (Sea and Air) is an essential part of international law and the UN Charter. China is picking a fight based on a flawed premise that has absolutely nothing supporting it.

a reply to: 727Sky

I do not get the current administration. Sometimes they act weak; like they will do anything to avoid conflict, and then other times they act like they want to royally piss off the perhaps greatest military adversary of the United States.


I almost wonder if the administration have a deal with China .. "please let us seem tough..." ..

originally posted by: Xcathdra
China is its own worst enemy in this case. For some reason China likes to believe that an EEZ equates into sovereign territory. They also seem to think building islands also creates sovereign territory, which it does not.

I agree - Freedom of Navigation (Sea and Air) is an essential part of international law and the UN Charter. China is picking a fight based on a flawed premise that has absolutely nothing supporting it.

Uh oh.....

This is a good fight, but it is only going to ratchet up tensions another notch in Syria. China just joined Russia in the coalition, putting it in direct conflict with US intentions over there and now this.

Good luck America, you are going to need it.

This is exactly what the navy is for. Send the ship through with a warning to the Chinese.

Thanks for the replies folks. I tend to believe this is much more important than some of the failed doom porn we read around here all the time.

With the present (perceived) loss of face in the Mid-East no telling what could happen. I just don't want to see a bunch of our Naval men and women turned into shark poop. Obama has not approved the mission as of yet.. But... no telling when and if or the consequences thereafter.
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a reply to: 727Sky

The US Navy and her Captains and Commanders (and their entire teams onboard) are, by far, the most professional, level-headed, astute, intelligent, diplomatic, Charismatic, respected individuals ever to walk the face of the Earth.

Your government politicians and officials would be so lucky and these fine Gentlemen and Ladies run rings around and see through ALL political BS.

They obey the law of the sea and international treaties and have the best interests of international peace as a central tenet to their every day philosophy.

And I am proud to call a few of them very close friends.

originally posted by: Bluntone22
This is exactly what the navy is for. Send the ship through with a warning to the Chinese.

I thought it was to defend the USA?



Anyway providing no one gets itchy trigger fingers China will no doubt be the one that blinks.

I can't see this as going the peaceful way. China has put a large naval presence in this area. They have already warned the US about flyovers recently as well. I can see this provoking China into action, though I think it is necessary at this point. I hope they have some air support when they send this ship in as it seems China has put half of their military forces in this area, including plenty of their air force and naval ships.

originally posted by: crazyewok

originally posted by: Bluntone22
This is exactly what the navy is for. Send the ship through with a warning to the Chinese.

I thought it was to defend the USA?



Anyway providing no one gets itchy trigger fingers China will no doubt be the one that blinks.

The navy also protects trade lanes to keep then safe for commerce. That is protecting the usa.
I also agree that China will be the one to blink.

a reply to: Vasa Croe

The weaponry that one single US destroyer has can eliminate Chinas cheap-ass newly-built topography in about 4 minutes.

This is like China bringing a stick to a nuke fight.

originally posted by: Sublimecraft
a reply to: 727Sky

The US Navy and her Captains and Commanders (and their entire teams onboard) are, by far, the most professional, level-headed, astute, intelligent, diplomatic, Charismatic, respected individuals ever to walk the face of the Earth.

Your government politicians and officials would be so lucky and these fine Gentlemen and Ladies run rings around and see through ALL political BS.

They obey the law of the sea and international treaties and have the best interests of international peace as a central tenet to their every day philosophy.

And I am proud to call a few of them very close friends.

No argument from me for that has been my experience too with all branches of the service.

However, the ones who send them into harms way with insane orders that basically have the services fighting with both hands tied behind their backs are a totally different breed IMO with no honor, no truth, and stupidity as their adviser and friend. .

China will do nothing but say a few angry words until the USA ship has left.....

Then they will likely build up more military hardware in the area to prove a point.

Seems like a pointless, fruitless exercise to me.

even their own don't have faith in Chiner.

originally posted by: Sublimecraft
a reply to: Vasa Croe

The weaponry that one single US destroyer has can eliminate Chinas cheap-ass newly-built topography in about 4 minutes.

This is like China bringing a stick to a nuke fight.

This is true but the immediate economic impact on America and the crash of the stock market is the real problem.

We just aren't tooled up to replace the supply chains yet and the economic disaster that would impact the world would most likely spell doom for most citizens around the world.

Let's hope this goes the way of peace not war. We can win the military conflict not so sure about the economic war.

originally posted by: Nexttimemaybe
China will do nothing but say a few angry words until the USA ship has left.....

Then they will likely build up more military hardware in the area to prove a point.

Seems like a pointless, fruitless exercise to me.

Maybe get them to over spend like the Russians in the cold war?

No ones going to start nuking everything into glass no matter how much plenty of people on here seem to think its pretty much the solution to everything.....theres not going to be any sudden missile's flying or seal teams taking over Chinese vessels all that'll happen is a few US ships will stay just in the correct international waters and both sets of subs will play a game of cat and mouse opening the odd torpedo tube etc while both sides have planes flying around and THEN they'll get bored and probably with Christmas and following that Chinese new year both sides will take a break and it'll be as forgotten as the rest of the global destruction events we've seen.

originally posted by: Vasa Croe
I can't see this as going the peaceful way.

Na

No one on either side will shoot.

USN is to professional and China will no way pick a fight with the USN willing for at least another decade or two.

Worst china will do is buzz the USN with a few jets then go home.

Well golly gee whiz that was sooner than I thought !

in.reuters.com...

Oct 8 The United States is expected to sail warships close to China's artificial islands in the South China Sea within the next two weeks to signal it does not recognize Chinese territorial claims over the area, the Financial Times reported, citing a senior U.S. official.

The ships will sail within the 12-nautical-mile zones that China claims as territory around some of the islands it has constructed in the Spratly chain, the report said.