This one came over the transom from the mil-net email… Once again, China IS stepping up their aggression in the region, not only militarily over the last three years, but now THIS…
CHINFO Item 17. China Sends Troops To Disputed Islands
(NEW YORK TIMES 24 JUL 12) … Jane Perlez
The announcement came as Chinese authorities told state media that 45 legislators elected over the weekend to govern the 1,100 people who live on the island groups of the Spratlys, the Paracels and the Macclesfield Bank — known in Chinese as the Xisha, Zhongsha and Nansha islands — met for the first time on Monday.
The new legislators would not only govern the island groups, many of them consisting of rocks and atolls, but also two million square kilometers of the South China Sea over which China claims jurisdiction, according to state media.
The two moves appeared designed to reinforce China’s claims over the South China Sea a week after a meeting of foreign ministers of the Association of South East Asian Nations in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, at which China, according to diplomats at the meeting, used its influence to stop even a rudimentary communiqué on the South China Sea among the 10 nations.
The establishment of a legislature for the sparsely populated islands, and the dispatch of soldiers, will antagonize Vietnam, which claims the same islands. Vietnam and China have fought since the 1970s over the three island groups, and last month, Vietnam passed a law that claimed sovereignty over the Paracels and Spratly Islands. In response, China said the islands were the “indisputable” territory of China.
The Philippines and China have also been involved in a dispute for months over Scarborough Shoal, an area off the coast of the Philippines claimed by both countries.
In the case of the Nansha, Xisha and Zhongsha islands, China’s State Council approved the establishment of a prefectural-level administration known as Sansha City to replace a lower county level administration last month.
The election of the legislators over the weekend and their meeting Monday at a first session of a people’s congress appeared to be practical steps to show China was serious in its drive to have the South China Sea as its domain.
A mayor, who was formerly led the agriculture department of China’s Hainan provincial government, and three vice mayors were elected Monday by the 45 deputies to run the new Sansha administration, state media reported.
China Daily, an English-language government-run newspaper, described Yongxing Island as a “hidden beauty” formed by white coral shells piled on reefs. Government buildings lined Beijing Road, along with banks, shops and an airport, the newspaper said.
The speed of China’s actions was not surprising, said Wu Xinbo, deputy director of the Center for American Studies at Fudan University in Shanghai. “Now the Philippines and Vietnam are both advancing their claims so China must also respond accordingly with its own plan,” Mr. Wu said.
The People’s Liberation Army garrison that was announced over the weekend would most likely be established on Xisha island, Mr. Wu said. “Xisha is closest to China and the facilities are relatively good.”
In a detailed report on the South China Sea in April, the International Crisis Group said that China had delayed establishing the Sansha city administration to govern the Paracels and Spratly, and appeared more intent on using tourism as way of asserting sovereignty.
Three months later, China has moved rapidly to set up the more powerful administration in response to Vietnam’s legislation claiming sovereignty and “provocations” by the Philippines, Mr. Wu said.
And our response???
Anyone???
Bueler???
/crickets
You are correct there has been NO response! For over 30 years that I am aware of, the USA has stood behind both Philippine and Taiwanese claims and earlier Vietnamese claims to portions of the Spratleys. The islands (mostly atolls) are the center of an ongoing set of claims of ownership that have accelerated since oil was found there back in the 70’s…
You can read THIS to get a sense of what our administration’s ‘new’ stance is… @#&*# pathetic…
And an interesting read HERE… Are you ready???
RE: THE GROWING CHINA THREAT – Shipmate, you are preaching to the choir on this one. Unfortunately, my beach storming compatriots are all old men whose closest friends are their Primary Care Physician and their Pharmacist. You, frère Jim, are one of “My People” who still is chasing a buck, but who soon will out here with us. You need to check out that fellow who looks back at you from the mirror each morning when you shave. Is he up to not sleepin’ for days at a time, and flyin’ zero dark thirty get-up-and-go patrols, Lock ‘N Loadin’, saddlin’ up, livin’ on MREs, walkin’ point while prayin’ and sprayin’ your way all the way into downtown Beijing? Oh, by the way, how are those Mandarin lessons of yours coming?
The only early Get Up & Go Dawn Patrol Sorties I execute these days are preceded by a morning twilight, loving Honey-Do nudge from Admiral Her Nibs, followed by a whispered, “Joe, get up and take the garbage can out to the street. I think hear the Garbage Truck coming” — To which I respond, “Aye, Aye,” as I catapult out of bed into my slippers and robe.
Yes, the doings of the no longer “Sleeping Giant” Red China is of great intellectual, concern to me, though I do not fear the “Red Menace” will be storming the sandy beaches here on the Space Coast ala Revelation 13.1, anytime soon. The Red Chinese are building up their current Coastal, “Brown Water” Navy into one that is tracking towards a future Open-Ocean, “Blue Water” Navy, as we, under USCINC Obama, track towards severely downsizing our armed forces and cutting our Defense Budget in half. The Chinese are doing this with the “Free Trade, Made In China ” money of U.S. Citizens. Money spent on “$tuff” at Wal-Mart, et al, along with the profit the Chinese are making on “$5 Bucks-For-$6 Bucks On Pay Day” U.S. Treasury Trillions in “Barracks Banker Loans” made to the U.S. to continue to fund our financially hemorrhaging “Hands Out, Mouths Open, Porkulus-Spending” Global New World Order United Socialist States of America Government.
It looks like the political fix is in with the powers that be in the smoke-filled rooms of the Republican Party, and, with luck, “Obama Lite” Romney will out Electoral Vote gather over Marxist Obama. If that is what, in fact, happens, Obama will be the First Black, One Term President, and then we will have a new problemo mit Socialist Mitt. Those are my defense and political concerns.
I am now a retired warrior, and will have let the young’uns sort it all out and solve The China Problem, while my Bride-For-Life and I do our best to stay healthy and live off the fat of the land in Social Obscurity.
I transitioned into a full, Margaritaville , Florida lifestyle over a decade ago. These days, my biggest problem is worrying about blowing out a flip-flop followed by stepping on a pop-top. Please excuse me while I finish dumping this jigger of booze into the blender so I can enjoy a frozen Florida concoction, and go searchin’ for my lost shaker of salt that is around here somewhere. It don’t get betta den wastin’ away, nibblin’ on sponge cake, watchin the sun bake as I smell shrimp and fresh-caught langouste beginnin’ ta boil.
Relax, old NFO. The CinC is monitoring the situation.
I’m not sure I really care about these nations squabbling over rocks, especially Vietnam and China.
Joe- I’m thinking harder and harder about that… 🙂
WSF- THAT is what is scaring me…
Andy- Where it comes into play is Freedom of Navigation/Freedom of the Seas (e.g. they just ‘might’ shoot/try to sink one of our ships). Other than the safety of our kids, I don’t really give a rats ass either…
I noticed some time ago that the biggest push toward socialism/marxism – that which is currently underway – began only after most of The Greatest Generation is gone. The graying Viet Nam folks are getting long in the tooth now, and I don’t know whether the youngers are as PO’d about things as we are.
The only thing I’m sure of is that conditions are likely to get worse – a LOT worse – before it gets better … if it gets better. There’s a reason the USA isn’t referred to in the Book of Revelation, after all.
The chicoms have been quietly expanding their military capabilities for quite a while. As their economy slows down there will be more and more pressure by their citizens for the government to ‘do something.’
A little military ‘police action’ will divert the masses quite nicely. And once they find out that we won’t (or can’t) do anything about it they’ll get bolder and bolder.
Just one more thing that keeps me awake at night…
Gee, we’d like to object in the name of freedom, but China owns way to much of our debt and Barky was never big on that whole “freedom” thing anyway if it interfered with his campaign donations or his donors’ business dealings with China.
They are sqaubbling over large amounts of oil reserves in the area.
We will pick the lesser of two commies and back (INSERT NAME)?????
Gerry
Quemoy? Matsu?
The Chinese still consider Adm. Zheng He’s voyages as giving them the right to control both the Indian and most of the Pacific Ocean.
When Romney wins (thinking positively here) I dread what both the Chinese and BHO will do between Nov. 7th and Jan. 20th.
Bah. They’ve been squabbling over that collection of mostly rocks since I was stationed over there.
Loved the revolution piece you tacked on the end, though.
Rev- Yep!
Tim- True, and it IS about oil!
Murph- Point!
Gerry- yep…
Stretch- You are correct (sadly on both counts)…
MSgt- Squabbling yes, taking control NO, this is totally new!
Nothing like having China sabre rattling now that we are perceived as being “weak”. The Taiwanese wants to update their aging F-16 blockA/B fighters with C/D block fighters and the United States want to sell them upgraded block A/B’s. Nothing like throwing a stalwart ally under the bus…Obungler is afraid of upsetting the COMMUNIST Chinese….I suppose birds of a feather kinda thing. THe Taiwanese are worried about the military buildup of the Red Chinese and for many years the guns of the American Fleet patrolled the Formosa straits preserving the peace. Now we have Obungler in charge and they are concerned that Obungler will not support them. Ask the Israili’s how they feel right now.
The only freedoms you have are the ones you are willing to fight/die for. Are we as a country ready to die for our freedoms as our forefathers did?
Yeah, nothing like putting a couple carrier groups in the South China Sea and a B-52 wing in the Phillipines for a while.
Not that our current leadership will do anything like that. They’re more likely to apologize for making the chinese wait so long to do their deed.
Relax, old NFO. The CinC is monitoring the situation.