Japanese prime minister threatens force if China attempts to land on Senkaku island chain in East China Sea

 

 Japanese prime minister threatens force if China attempts to land on Senkaku island chain in East China Sea: The Chinese boats drove out a flotilla of 10 boats carrying about 80 Japanese activists from the nationalist Ganbare Nippon ("Stand Firm, Japan") group, which sailed into waters around the islets early on Tuesday. 

They then began to withdraw from the area on the orders of Japanese Coast Guard patrol ships, when Chinese government surveillance ships came nearby. "Our latest intelligence indicates that a large number of Chinese vessels have entered Japanese territorial waters," an unidentified coast guard member told the activists.

It just gets worse and worse; Saturday, April 20, 2013

US opposes coercive China action in island dispute

US opposes coercive China action in island dispute: The United States says it's committed to defending Japan and opposes any coercive action by China to seize territory under Japanese control in the East China Sea. U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry says the U.S. isn't taking a position in the dispute over the islands, known as Senkaku in Japan and Diaoyu in China.

Japan and China have sparred over the uninhabited islands in recent years. Kerry's strong words of support Sunday for America's ally come just a day after he promised new levels of U.S.-Chinese cooperation on a host of problems, most notably North Korea's nuclear program.

Knowing the coercion has been going on for years and ratcheting up of late is Japan supposed to be heartened by that statement? Or China chastised? Just a week ago:

China to open disputed South China Sea islands to tourism:

China to open disputed South China Sea islands to tourism: The plans to allow tourists to visit the Paracel Islands before the May Day holiday is the latest stage in Beijing's development of the territory, which has previously angered Vietnam and caused concern in Washington.

Vietnam and China have a longstanding territorial row over the Paracel Islands.Hanoi last month accused a Chinese vessel of firing on one of its fishing boats which had sailed in disputed waters in the area. The plan to allow cruise tours follows rapid development of infrastructure in a new city — Sansha — along with the establishment of an army garrison on one of the Paracels last year.

Inch by inch step by step slowly China's plan in the China sea's turns. Isn't this from inception coercion?

Beijing tells US to 'shut up' over South China Sea tensions

Protests in Vietnam as anger over China's 'bullying' grows: Hands off you Bastard neighbor

Analysis: China unveils oil offensive in South China Sea squabble, outside intervention not welcome

Analysis: China unveils oil offensive in South China Sea squabble: Beijing claims almost all the South China Sea, a body of water believed to hold rich reserves of oil and gas and which stretches from China to Indonesia and from Vietnam to the Philippines. Vietnam, the Philippines, Taiwan, Brunei and Malaysia claim parts of it. Any conflict in the sea, one of the world's busiest trade routes, would have global repercussions given the $5 trillion in ship-borne trade carried on its waters each year. "The Chinese government's stance is clearer than ever ... They want to take on and develop this region," said an executive at a global oil major, who declined to be identified because of the sensitivity of the matter.

The Philippines put two disputed blocks on offer on Tuesday but only received three separate bids for exploration rights, an indication that there was little appetite to go up against China in the South China Sea. "China's view is that the little countries, like Vietnam and the Philippines, are increasingly stealing its resources and it must demonstrate it is serious about upholding its claims," said Ian Storey, a senior fellow at the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies in Singapore.

*Ministry of Defense: outside intervention not welcome: A military spokesman on Tuesday warned foreign countries to avoid interfering with territorial disputes between China and its neighbors regarding the South China Sea. On the eve of the 85th founding anniversary of the People's Liberation Army (PLA), the Chinese government held an unprecedented press conference by inviting five senior officers with the PLA's four headquarters to meet the press. "We oppose any country outside the region intervening in these disputes," Defense Ministry spokesman Geng Yansheng said on the sidelines of the conference.

"Any intervention by countries outside the region will complicate the problem and even deteriorate the situation," Geng said, calling for bilateral dialogue and negotiations to solve disputes in both the South China Sea and the East China Sea. The spokesman said disputes in the South China Sea mainly revolve around sovereignty and sea delimitation. "China will continue to seek appropriate solutions through bilateral negotiations and consultations with parties directly involved in the disputes," Geng said. Tensions have risen in the South China Sea, where China, Vietnam, the Philippines and other several countries in the region have made overlapping territorial claims over multiple islands.

Now we know why China would not sign the SouthEast China sea accord! They planned on breaking the accord and dramatically ratcheting up tensions by setting up a Government over the disputed Islands and seas so they would have an excuse to intervene militarily.
*China Approves City Council, Military Base in Disputed Islands: China says it has formed a municipal council for a newly established city in a disputed part of the South China Sea, and has authorized the deployment of a military base in the area. In a report published Sunday, China's official Xinhua news agency says 1,100 residents of several islands known in Chinese as Xisha, Zhongsha and Nansha have elected 45 deputies to a municipal people's congress. The islands are part of the new city called Sansha, and the council will be based on an island that China refers to as Yongxing, known in English as Woody Island.

Xinhua also says China's Central Military Commission has approved the formation of a Sansha garrison command responsible for “national defense” and “military operations.” The Chinese government declared the establishment of Sansha last month, saying its role is to administer the disputed Paracel and Spratly archipelagos and surrounding South China Sea waters, which are believed to hold oil and natural gas deposits. The islands are claimed in whole or in part by Brunei, China, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan and Vietnam.

*China dubs tiny island new city in sea claim bid: China's newest city is a tiny and remote island in the South China Sea, barely large enough to host a single airstrip. There is a post office, bank, supermarket and a hospital, but little else. Fresh water comes by freighter on a 13-hour journey from China's southernmost province.Beijing has created the city administration to oversee not only the rugged outpost but hundreds of thousands of square kilometers (miles) of water, aiming to strengthen its control over disputed - and potentially oil-rich - islands.A spokesman for the Philippines Foreign Ministry said Manila did not recognize the city or its jurisdiction. Vietnam said China's actions violated international law.

The city administration is on tiny Yongxing island, 350 kilometers (220 miles) southeast from China's tropical Hainan Island. The Cabinet approved Sansha last month to "consolidate administration" over the Paracel and Spratly island chains and the Macclesfield Bank, a large, completely submerged atoll that boasts rich fishing grounds that is also claimed by Taiwan and the Philippines. Vietnam and China both claim the Paracels, of which Yongxing, little more than half the size of Manhattan's Central Park, is part. The two countries along with the Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan also claim all or parts of the Spratlys.

This just raises the threat of conflict in the South China Sea. China's way of resolving the multi nation South China Sea issue is not just to lay claim to the whole of China Sea's but today token claim to them as being habitat-ed by China therefore allowing China to militarily fight for them.

Highlights: Asean Summit Breaks Down Over South China Sea Disputes, Philippines says China warship is in its territory, a military aircraft spotted six other Chinese ships near the stricken vessel on Saturday. Japan's plan to buy the disputed Tiaoyutai island group provoked a Chinese live ammunition exercise. China will not sign the South China Sea code of conduct. China, Japan Face Off Near Disputed Islands. China, US seek to calm South China Sea tensions. Plus a recap of what led us to this point if need. If something interests you in this very long and convoluted issue just click on the link and read further!

Why won't China sign the South China Sea code of conduct? (+video) The agreement, raised at the Association of South East Asian Nations in Cambodia, would be the 10th covering essentially the same territorial dispute since the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. The idea is that it would spell out what ships should do to avoid a clash but it wouldn't actually spell out how to resolve competing claims, according to regional news media.

Now we know why, This is just one more confrontation you can only see ending in war rather than Diplomacy and sharing the wealth!

The long run up to the China sea's conflict and the US and allies verse Russia and China competing naval muscle flexing I mean exercises
Being in a superior position puts one in a unique position of power and that power must be handled gracefully, with humility, responsibly, and not abused. That is something I taught all my sons and America under Bush did a lousy job of handling. I am a little worried that China too is getting a little too heavy handed and abusive with her new position of power and beginning to take what she wants instead of being content with what she has which is what I constantly lecture has to be the case if we are to have a future. The time when man and the planet could handle war and colonialism is over, period or else!

We are Taiwan's, Vietnam's, Australia's, and Japan's protectors. As China flex's their military muscles in the area we are not supposed to worry. Just what are we supposed to think they are going to do with their advanced weaponry, missiles, stealth aircraft, aircraft carriers and the like. Their threats are going to become more ominous until they cannot be ignored and it is too late. We have been here before. The world was not supposed to worry as Hitler built his arsenal and we know how that turned out.

Haven't we all been coerced by China and isn't it working up to now? China will go to war over this but will the US and the Asian allies we swore to protect?

James Joiner
Gardner, Ma
http://anaverageamericanpatriot.blogspot.com

US opposes coercive China action in island dispute

US opposes coercive China action in island dispute: The United States says it's committed to defending Japan and opposes any coercive action by China to seize territory under Japanese control in the East China Sea. U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry says the U.S. isn't taking a position in the dispute over the islands, known as Senkaku in Japan and Diaoyu in China.

Japan and China have sparred over the uninhabited islands in recent years. Kerry's strong words of support Sunday for America's ally come just a day after he promised new levels of U.S.-Chinese cooperation on a host of problems, most notably North Korea's nuclear program.

Knowing the coercion has been going on for years and ratcheting up of late is Japan supposed to be heartened by that statement? Or China chastised? Just a week ago:

China to open disputed South China Sea islands to tourism:

Now China has what they call a military Garrison as well as "tourism" to secure the energy fields I mean South China seas. Coercion?

China to open disputed South China Sea islands to tourism: The plans to allow tourists to visit the Paracel Islands before the May Day holiday is the latest stage in Beijing's development of the territory, which has previously angered Vietnam and caused concern in Washington.

Vietnam and China have a longstanding territorial row over the Paracel Islands.Hanoi last month accused a Chinese vessel of firing on one of its fishing boats which had sailed in disputed waters in the area. The plan to allow cruise tours follows rapid development of infrastructure in a new city — Sansha — along with the establishment of an army garrison on one of the Paracels last year.

Inch by inch step by step slowly China's plan in the China sea's turns. Isn't this from inception coercion?

Beijing tells US to 'shut up' over South China Sea tensions

Protests in Vietnam as anger over China's 'bullying' grows: Hands off you Bastard neighbor

Analysis: China unveils oil offensive in South China Sea squabble, outside intervention not welcome

Analysis: China unveils oil offensive in South China Sea squabble: Beijing claims almost all the South China Sea, a body of water believed to hold rich reserves of oil and gas and which stretches from China to Indonesia and from Vietnam to the Philippines. Vietnam, the Philippines, Taiwan, Brunei and Malaysia claim parts of it. Any conflict in the sea, one of the world's busiest trade routes, would have global repercussions given the $5 trillion in ship-borne trade carried on its waters each year. "The Chinese government's stance is clearer than ever ... They want to take on and develop this region," said an executive at a global oil major, who declined to be identified because of the sensitivity of the matter.

The Philippines put two disputed blocks on offer on Tuesday but only received three separate bids for exploration rights, an indication that there was little appetite to go up against China in the South China Sea. "China's view is that the little countries, like Vietnam and the Philippines, are increasingly stealing its resources and it must demonstrate it is serious about upholding its claims," said Ian Storey, a senior fellow at the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies in Singapore.

*Ministry of Defense: outside intervention not welcome: A military spokesman on Tuesday warned foreign countries to avoid interfering with territorial disputes between China and its neighbors regarding the South China Sea. On the eve of the 85th founding anniversary of the People's Liberation Army (PLA), the Chinese government held an unprecedented press conference by inviting five senior officers with the PLA's four headquarters to meet the press. "We oppose any country outside the region intervening in these disputes," Defense Ministry spokesman Geng Yansheng said on the sidelines of the conference.

"Any intervention by countries outside the region will complicate the problem and even deteriorate the situation," Geng said, calling for bilateral dialogue and negotiations to solve disputes in both the South China Sea and the East China Sea. The spokesman said disputes in the South China Sea mainly revolve around sovereignty and sea delimitation. "China will continue to seek appropriate solutions through bilateral negotiations and consultations with parties directly involved in the disputes," Geng said. Tensions have risen in the South China Sea, where China, Vietnam, the Philippines and other several countries in the region have made overlapping territorial claims over multiple islands.

Now we know why China would not sign the SouthEast China sea accord! They planned on breaking the accord and dramatically ratcheting up tensions by setting up a Government over the disputed Islands and seas so they would have an excuse to intervene militarily.

*China Approves City Council, Military Base in Disputed Islands: China says it has formed a municipal council for a newly established city in a disputed part of the South China Sea, and has authorized the deployment of a military base in the area. In a report published Sunday, China's official Xinhua news agency says 1,100 residents of several islands known in Chinese as Xisha, Zhongsha and Nansha have elected 45 deputies to a municipal people's congress. The islands are part of the new city called Sansha, and the council will be based on an island that China refers to as Yongxing, known in English as Woody Island.

Xinhua also says China's Central Military Commission has approved the formation of a Sansha garrison command responsible for “national defense” and “military operations.” The Chinese government declared the establishment of Sansha last month, saying its role is to administer the disputed Paracel and Spratly archipelagos and surrounding South China Sea waters, which are believed to hold oil and natural gas deposits. The islands are claimed in whole or in part by Brunei, China, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan and Vietnam.

*China dubs tiny island new city in sea claim bid: China's newest city is a tiny and remote island in the South China Sea, barely large enough to host a single airstrip. There is a post office, bank, supermarket and a hospital, but little else. Fresh water comes by freighter on a 13-hour journey from China's southernmost province.Beijing has created the city administration to oversee not only the rugged outpost but hundreds of thousands of square kilometers (miles) of water, aiming to strengthen its control over disputed - and potentially oil-rich - islands.A spokesman for the Philippines Foreign Ministry said Manila did not recognize the city or its jurisdiction. Vietnam said China's actions violated international law.

The city administration is on tiny Yongxing island, 350 kilometers (220 miles) southeast from China's tropical Hainan Island. The Cabinet approved Sansha last month to "consolidate administration" over the Paracel and Spratly island chains and the Macclesfield Bank, a large, completely submerged atoll that boasts rich fishing grounds that is also claimed by Taiwan and the Philippines. Vietnam and China both claim the Paracels, of which Yongxing, little more than half the size of Manhattan's Central Park, is part. The two countries along with the Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan also claim all or parts of the Spratlys.

This just raises the threat of conflict in the South China Sea. China's way of resolving the multi nation South China Sea issue is not just to lay claim to the whole of China Sea's but today token claim to them as being habitat-ed by China therefore allowing China to militarily fight for them.

Highlights: Asean Summit Breaks Down Over South China Sea Disputes, Philippines says China warship is in its territory, a military aircraft spotted six other Chinese ships near the stricken vessel on Saturday. Japan's plan to buy the disputed Tiaoyutai island group provoked a Chinese live ammunition exercise. China will not sign the South China Sea code of conduct. China, Japan Face Off Near Disputed Islands. China, US seek to calm South China Sea tensions. Plus a recap of what led us to this point if need. If something interests you in this very long and convoluted issue just click on the link and read further!

Why won't China sign the South China Sea code of conduct? (+video) The agreement, raised at the Association of South East Asian Nations in Cambodia, would be the 10th covering essentially the same territorial dispute since the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. The idea is that it would spell out what ships should do to avoid a clash but it wouldn't actually spell out how to resolve competing claims, according to regional news media.

Now we know why, This is just one more confrontation you can only see ending in war rather than Diplomacy and sharing the wealth!

The long run up to the China sea's conflict and the US and allies verse Russia and China competing naval muscle flexing I mean exercises

Being in a superior position puts one in a unique position of power and that power must be handled gracefully, with humility, responsibly, and not abused. That is something I taught all my sons and America under Bush did a lousy job of handling. I am a little worried that China too is getting a little too heavy handed and abusive with her new position of power and beginning to take what she wants instead of being content with what she has which is what I constantly lecture has to be the case if we are to have a future. The time when man and the planet could handle war and colonialism is over, period or else!

We are Taiwan's, Vietnam's, Australia's, and Japan's protectors. As China flex's their military muscles in the area we are not supposed to worry. Just what are we supposed to think they are going to do with their advanced weaponry, missiles, stealth aircraft, aircraft carriers and the like. Their threats are going to become more ominous until they cannot be ignored and it is too late. We have been here before. The world was not supposed to worry as Hitler built his arsenal and we know how that turned out.

Haven't we all been coerced by China and isn't it working up to now?

James Joiner
Gardner, Ma
http://anaverageamericanpatriot.blogspot.com

China to open disputed South China Sea islands to tourism:

Now China has what they call a military Garrison as well as "tourism" to secure the energy fields I mean South China seas

China to open disputed South China Sea islands to tourism: The plans to allow tourists to visit the Paracel Islands before the May Day holiday is the latest stage in Beijing's development of the territory, which has previously angered Vietnam and caused concern in Washington. 

Vietnam and China have a longstanding territorial row over the Paracel Islands.Hanoi last month accused a Chinese vessel of firing on one of its fishing boats which had sailed in disputed waters in the area. The plan to allow cruise tours follows rapid development of infrastructure in a new city — Sansha — along with the establishment of an army garrison on one of the Paracels last year.

Inch by inch step by step slowly China's plan in the China sea's turns

Beijing tells US to 'shut up' over South China Sea tensions

Protests in Vietnam as anger over China's 'bullying' grows: Hands off you Bastard neighbor

Analysis: China unveils oil offensive in South China Sea squabble, outside intervention not welcome

Analysis: China unveils oil offensive in South China Sea squabble: Beijing claims almost all the South China Sea, a body of water believed to hold rich reserves of oil and gas and which stretches from China to Indonesia and from Vietnam to the Philippines. Vietnam, the Philippines, Taiwan, Brunei and Malaysia claim parts of it. Any conflict in the sea, one of the world's busiest trade routes, would have global repercussions given the $5 trillion in ship-borne trade carried on its waters each year. "The Chinese government's stance is clearer than ever ... They want to take on and develop this region," said an executive at a global oil major, who declined to be identified because of the sensitivity of the matter.

The Philippines put two disputed blocks on offer on Tuesday but only received three separate bids for exploration rights, an indication that there was little appetite to go up against China in the South China Sea. "China's view is that the little countries, like Vietnam and the Philippines, are increasingly stealing its resources and it must demonstrate it is serious about upholding its claims," said Ian Storey, a senior fellow at the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies in Singapore.

*Ministry of Defense: outside intervention not welcome: A military spokesman on Tuesday warned foreign countries to avoid interfering with territorial disputes between China and its neighbors regarding the South China Sea. On the eve of the 85th founding anniversary of the People's Liberation Army (PLA), the Chinese government held an unprecedented press conference by inviting five senior officers with the PLA's four headquarters to meet the press. "We oppose any country outside the region intervening in these disputes," Defense Ministry spokesman Geng Yansheng said on the sidelines of the conference.

"Any intervention by countries outside the region will complicate the problem and even deteriorate the situation," Geng said, calling for bilateral dialogue and negotiations to solve disputes in both the South China Sea and the East China Sea. The spokesman said disputes in the South China Sea mainly revolve around sovereignty and sea delimitation. "China will continue to seek appropriate solutions through bilateral negotiations and consultations with parties directly involved in the disputes," Geng said. Tensions have risen in the South China Sea, where China, Vietnam, the Philippines and other several countries in the region have made overlapping territorial claims over multiple islands.

Now we know why China would not sign the SouthEast China sea accord! They planned on breaking the accord and dramatically ratcheting up tensions by setting up a Government over the disputed Islands and seas so they would have an excuse to intervene militarily.

*China Approves City Council, Military Base in Disputed Islands: China says it has formed a municipal council for a newly established city in a disputed part of the South China Sea, and has authorized the deployment of a military base in the area. In a report published Sunday, China's official Xinhua news agency says 1,100 residents of several islands known in Chinese as Xisha, Zhongsha and Nansha have elected 45 deputies to a municipal people's congress. The islands are part of the new city called Sansha, and the council will be based on an island that China refers to as Yongxing, known in English as Woody Island.

Xinhua also says China's Central Military Commission has approved the formation of a Sansha garrison command responsible for “national defense” and “military operations.” The Chinese government declared the establishment of Sansha last month, saying its role is to administer the disputed Paracel and Spratly archipelagos and surrounding South China Sea waters, which are believed to hold oil and natural gas deposits. The islands are claimed in whole or in part by Brunei, China, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan and Vietnam.

*China dubs tiny island new city in sea claim bid: China's newest city is a tiny and remote island in the South China Sea, barely large enough to host a single airstrip. There is a post office, bank, supermarket and a hospital, but little else. Fresh water comes by freighter on a 13-hour journey from China's southernmost province.Beijing has created the city administration to oversee not only the rugged outpost but hundreds of thousands of square kilometers (miles) of water, aiming to strengthen its control over disputed - and potentially oil-rich - islands.A spokesman for the Philippines Foreign Ministry said Manila did not recognize the city or its jurisdiction. Vietnam said China's actions violated international law.

The city administration is on tiny Yongxing island, 350 kilometers (220 miles) southeast from China's tropical Hainan Island. The Cabinet approved Sansha last month to "consolidate administration" over the Paracel and Spratly island chains and the Macclesfield Bank, a large, completely submerged atoll that boasts rich fishing grounds that is also claimed by Taiwan and the Philippines. Vietnam and China both claim the Paracels, of which Yongxing, little more than half the size of Manhattan's Central Park, is part. The two countries along with the Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan also claim all or parts of the Spratlys.

This just raises the threat of conflict in the South China Sea. China's way of resolving the multi nation South China Sea issue is not just to lay claim to the whole of China Sea's but today token claim to them as being habitat-ed by China therefore allowing China to militarily fight for them.

Highlights: Asean Summit Breaks Down Over South China Sea Disputes, Philippines says China warship is in its territory, a military aircraft spotted six other Chinese ships near the stricken vessel on Saturday. Japan's plan to buy the disputed Tiaoyutai island group provoked a Chinese live ammunition exercise. China will not sign the South China Sea code of conduct. China, Japan Face Off Near Disputed Islands. China, US seek to calm South China Sea tensions. Plus a recap of what led us to this point if need. If something interests you in this very long and convoluted issue just click on the link and read further!

Why won't China sign the South China Sea code of conduct? (+video) The agreement, raised at the Association of South East Asian Nations in Cambodia, would be the 10th covering essentially the same territorial dispute since the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. The idea is that it would spell out what ships should do to avoid a clash but it wouldn't actually spell out how to resolve competing claims, according to regional news media.

Now we know why, This is just one more confrontation you can only see ending in war rather than Diplomacy and sharing the wealth!

The long run up to the China sea's conflict and the US and allies verse Russia and China competing naval muscle flexing I mean exercises

Being in a superior position puts one in a unique position of power and that power must be handled gracefully, with humility, responsibly, and not abused. That is something I taught all my sons and America under Bush did a lousy job of handling. I am a little worried that China too is getting a little too heavy handed and abusive with her new position of power and beginning to take what she wants instead of being content with what she has which is what I constantly lecture has to be the case if we are to have a future. The time when man and the planet could handle war and colonialism is over, period or else!

We are Taiwan's, Vietnam's, Australia's, and Japan's protectors. As China flex's their military muscles in the area we are not supposed to worry. Just what are we supposed to think they are going to do with their advanced weaponry, missiles, stealth aircraft, aircraft carriers and the like. Their threats are going to become more ominous until they cannot be ignored and it is too late. We have been here before. The world was not supposed to worry as Hitler built his arsenal and we know how that turned out.



James Joiner
Gardner, Ma
http://anaverageamericanpatriot.blogspot.com

Inch by inch step by step slowly China's plan in the China sea's turns

Beijing tells US to 'shut up' over South China Sea tensions

Protests in Vietnam as anger over China's 'bullying' grows: Hands off you Bastard neighbor

Analysis: China unveils oil offensive in South China Sea squabble, outside intervention not welcome

Analysis: China unveils oil offensive in South China Sea squabble: Beijing claims almost all the South China Sea, a body of water believed to hold rich reserves of oil and gas and which stretches from China to Indonesia and from Vietnam to the Philippines. Vietnam, the Philippines, Taiwan, Brunei and Malaysia claim parts of it. Any conflict in the sea, one of the world's busiest trade routes, would have global repercussions given the $5 trillion in ship-borne trade carried on its waters each year. "The Chinese government's stance is clearer than ever ... They want to take on and develop this region," said an executive at a global oil major, who declined to be identified because of the sensitivity of the matter.

The Philippines put two disputed blocks on offer on Tuesday but only received three separate bids for exploration rights, an indication that there was little appetite to go up against China in the South China Sea. "China's view is that the little countries, like Vietnam and the Philippines, are increasingly stealing its resources and it must demonstrate it is serious about upholding its claims," said Ian Storey, a senior fellow at the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies in Singapore.

Ministry of Defense: outside intervention not welcome: A military spokesman on Tuesday warned foreign countries to avoid interfering with territorial disputes between China and its neighbors regarding the South China Sea. On the eve of the 85th founding anniversary of the People's Liberation Army (PLA), the Chinese government held an unprecedented press conference by inviting five senior officers with the PLA's four headquarters to meet the press. "We oppose any country outside the region intervening in these disputes," Defense Ministry spokesman Geng Yansheng said on the sidelines of the conference.

"Any intervention by countries outside the region will complicate the problem and even deteriorate the situation," Geng said, calling for bilateral dialogue and negotiations to solve disputes in both the South China Sea and the East China Sea. The spokesman said disputes in the South China Sea mainly revolve around sovereignty and sea delimitation. "China will continue to seek appropriate solutions through bilateral negotiations and consultations with parties directly involved in the disputes," Geng said. Tensions have risen in the South China Sea, where China, Vietnam, the Philippines and other several countries in the region have made overlapping territorial claims over multiple islands.

Now we know why China would not sign the SouthEast China sea accord! They planned on breaking the accord and dramatically ratcheting up tensions by setting up a Government over the disputed Islands and seas so they would have an excuse to intervene militarily.

China Approves City Council, Military Base in Disputed Islands: China says it has formed a municipal council for a newly established city in a disputed part of the South China Sea, and has authorized the deployment of a military base in the area. In a report published Sunday, China's official Xinhua news agency says 1,100 residents of several islands known in Chinese as Xisha, Zhongsha and Nansha have elected 45 deputies to a municipal people's congress. The islands are part of the new city called Sansha, and the council will be based on an island that China refers to as Yongxing, known in English as Woody Island.

Xinhua also says China's Central Military Commission has approved the formation of a Sansha garrison command responsible for “national defense” and “military operations.” The Chinese government declared the establishment of Sansha last month, saying its role is to administer the disputed Paracel and Spratly archipelagos and surrounding South China Sea waters, which are believed to hold oil and natural gas deposits. The islands are claimed in whole or in part by Brunei, China, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan and Vietnam.

China dubs tiny island new city in sea claim bid: China's newest city is a tiny and remote island in the South China Sea, barely large enough to host a single airstrip. There is a post office, bank, supermarket and a hospital, but little else. Fresh water comes by freighter on a 13-hour journey from China's southernmost province.Beijing has created the city administration to oversee not only the rugged outpost but hundreds of thousands of square kilometers (miles) of water, aiming to strengthen its control over disputed - and potentially oil-rich - islands.A spokesman for the Philippines Foreign Ministry said Manila did not recognize the city or its jurisdiction. Vietnam said China's actions violated international law.

The city administration is on tiny Yongxing island, 350 kilometers (220 miles) southeast from China's tropical Hainan Island. The Cabinet approved Sansha last month to "consolidate administration" over the Paracel and Spratly island chains and the Macclesfield Bank, a large, completely submerged atoll that boasts rich fishing grounds that is also claimed by Taiwan and the Philippines. Vietnam and China both claim the Paracels, of which Yongxing, little more than half the size of Manhattan's Central Park, is part. The two countries along with the Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan also claim all or parts of the Spratlys.

This just raises the threat of conflict in the South China Sea. China's way of resolving the multi nation South China Sea issue is not just to lay claim to the whole of China Sea's but today token claim to them as being habitat-ed by China therefore allowing China to militarily fight for them.

Highlights: Asean Summit Breaks Down Over South China Sea Disputes, Philippines says China warship is in its territory, a military aircraft spotted six other Chinese ships near the stricken vessel on Saturday. Japan's plan to buy the disputed Tiaoyutai island group provoked a Chinese live ammunition exercise. China will not sign the South China Sea code of conduct. China, Japan Face Off Near Disputed Islands. China, US seek to calm South China Sea tensions. Plus a recap of what led us to this point if need. If something interests you in this very long and convoluted issue just click on the link and read further!

Why won't China sign the South China Sea code of conduct? (+video) The agreement, raised at the Association of South East Asian Nations in Cambodia, would be the 10th covering essentially the same territorial dispute since the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. The idea is that it would spell out what ships should do to avoid a clash but it wouldn't actually spell out how to resolve competing claims, according to regional news media.

Now we know why, This is just one more confrontation you can only see ending in war rather than Diplomacy and sharing the wealth!

The long run up to the China sea's conflict and the US and allies verse Russia and China competing naval muscle flexing I mean exercises

Being in a superior position puts one in a unique position of power and that power must be handled gracefully, with humility, responsibly, and not abused. That is something I taught all my sons and America under Bush did a lousy job of handling. I am a little worried that China too is getting a little too heavy handed and abusive with her new position of power and beginning to take what she wants instead of being content with what she has which is what I constantly lecture has to be the case if we are to have a future. The time when man and the planet could handle war and colonialism is over, period or else!

We are Taiwan's, Vietnam's, Australia's, and Japan's protectors. As China flex's their military muscles in the area we are not supposed to worry. Just what are we supposed to think they are going to do with their advanced weaponry, missiles, stealth aircraft, aircraft carriers and the like. Their threats are going to become more ominous until they cannot be ignored and it is too late. We have been here before. The world was not supposed to worry as Hitler built his arsenal and we know how that turned out.



James Joiner
Gardner, Ma
http://anaverageamericanpatriot.blogspot.com

China sets up Government Administration for Spratley's and Paracel's to justify military conflict

Now we know why China would not sign the SouthEast China sea accord! They planned on breaking the accord and dramatically ratcheting up tensions by setting up a Government over the disputed Islands and seas so they would have an excuse to intervene militarily.

China Approves City Council, Military Base in Disputed Islands: China says it has formed a municipal council for a newly established city in a disputed part of the South China Sea, and has authorized the deployment of a military base in the area. In a report published Sunday, China's official Xinhua news agency says 1,100 residents of several islands known in Chinese as Xisha, Zhongsha and Nansha have elected 45 deputies to a municipal people's congress. The islands are part of the new city called Sansha, and the council will be based on an island that China refers to as Yongxing, known in English as Woody Island.

Xinhua also says China's Central Military Commission has approved the formation of a Sansha garrison command responsible for “national defense” and “military operations.” The Chinese government declared the establishment of Sansha last month, saying its role is to administer the disputed Paracel and Spratly archipelagos and surrounding South China Sea waters, which are believed to hold oil and natural gas deposits. The islands are claimed in whole or in part by Brunei, China, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan and Vietnam.

China dubs tiny island new city in sea claim bid: China's newest city is a tiny and remote island in the South China Sea, barely large enough to host a single airstrip. There is a post office, bank, supermarket and a hospital, but little else. Fresh water comes by freighter on a 13-hour journey from China's southernmost province.Beijing has created the city administration to oversee not only the rugged outpost but hundreds of thousands of square kilometers (miles) of water, aiming to strengthen its control over disputed - and potentially oil-rich - islands.A spokesman for the Philippines Foreign Ministry said Manila did not recognize the city or its jurisdiction. Vietnam said China's actions violated international law.

The city administration is on tiny Yongxing island, 350 kilometers (220 miles) southeast from China's tropical Hainan Island. The Cabinet approved Sansha last month to "consolidate administration" over the Paracel and Spratly island chains and the Macclesfield Bank, a large, completely submerged atoll that boasts rich fishing grounds that is also claimed by Taiwan and the Philippines. Vietnam and China both claim the Paracels, of which Yongxing, little more than half the size of Manhattan's Central Park, is part. The two countries along with the Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan also claim all or parts of the Spratlys.

This just raises the threat of conflict in the South China Sea. China's way of resolving the multi nation South China Sea issue is not just to lay claim to the whole of China Sea's but today token claim to them as being habitat-ed by China therefore allowing China to militarily fight for them.

Highlights: Asean Summit Breaks Down Over South China Sea Disputes, Philippines says China warship is in its territory, a military aircraft spotted six other Chinese ships near the stricken vessel on Saturday. Japan's plan to buy the disputed Tiaoyutai island group provoked a Chinese live ammunition exercise. China will not sign the South China Sea code of conduct. China, Japan Face Off Near Disputed Islands. China, US seek to calm South China Sea tensions. Plus a recap of what led us to this point if need. If something interests you in this very long and convoluted issue just click on the link and read further!

Asean Summit Breaks Down Over South China Sea Disputes: China's efforts to assert its claims to the disputed South China Sea got a boost as regional talks to resolve the issue broke down despite U.S. support, even as Beijing made fresh moves that underscore its increasing presence in the region.A summit of foreign ministers of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, ended Friday amid tense disagreements over how to address territorial claims in the sea, which is claimed by China and in part by the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Taiwan and Brunei.

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, who attended the talks, had pressed for discussion of a multinational agreement to ease tensions—a move opposed by China, which prefers to negotiate with each nation separately. But Southeast Asian nations argued over how hard to press the Chinese, with countries such as Cambodia resisting any steps that would embarrass China, and the Philippines.

China, US seek to calm South China Sea tensions: The United States and China signaled a willingness on Thursday to work together on "sensitive issues" in a move to cool tensions between rival claimants to the potentially oil-rich and increasingly militarized South China Sea.

Long-simmering tensions in the waters have entered a more contentious chapter this year as the six parties who claim the territory search deeper into the disputed waters for energy supplies while building up their navies and defense alliances. Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi said Beijing was ready to work with Washington "to expand our common ground, respect each other, properly handle differences on sensitive issues, and push forward" relations.

Why won't China sign the South China Sea code of conduct? (+video) The agreement, raised at the Association of South East Asian Nations in Cambodia, would be the 10th covering essentially the same territorial dispute since the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. The idea is that it would spell out what ships should do to avoid a clash but it wouldn't actually spell out how to resolve competing claims, according to regional news media.


Now we know why, This is just one more confrontation you can only see ending in war rather than Diplomacy and sharing the wealth!

The long run up to the China sea's conflict and the US and allies verse Russia and China competing naval muscle flexing I mean exercises

Being in a superior position puts one in a unique position of power and that power must be handled gracefully, with humility, responsibly, and not abused. That is something I taught all my sons and America under Bush did a lousy job of handling. I am a little worried that China too is getting a little too heavy handed and abusive with her new position of power and beginning to take what she wants instead of being content with what she has which is what I constantly lecture has to be the case if we are to have a future. The time when man and the planet could handle war and colonialism is over, period or else!

We are Taiwan's, Vietnam's, Australia's, and Japan's protectors. As China flex's their military muscles in the area we are not supposed to worry. Just what are we supposed to think they are going to do with their advanced weaponry, missiles, stealth aircraft, aircraft carriers and the like. Their threats are going to become more ominous until they cannot be ignored and it is too late. We have been here before. The world was not supposed to worry as Hitler built his arsenal and we know how that turned out.



James Joiner
Gardner, Ma
http://anaverageamericanpatriot.blogspot.com

China will not sign the South China Sea code of conduct? (+video)

Asean Summit Breaks Down Over South China Sea Disputes, Philippines says China warship is in its territory, a military aircraft spotted six other Chinese ships near the stricken vessel on Saturday. Japan's plan to buy the disputed Tiaoyutai island group provoked a Chinese live ammunition exercise. China will not sign the South China Sea code of conduct. China, Japan Face Off Near Disputed Islands. China, US seek to calm South China Sea tensions. Plus a recap of what led us to this point if need. If something interests you in this very long and convoluted issue just click on the link and read further!

Asean Summit Breaks Down Over South China Sea Disputes: China's efforts to assert its claims to the disputed South China Sea got a boost as regional talks to resolve the issue broke down despite U.S. support, even as Beijing made fresh moves that underscore its increasing presence in the region.A summit of foreign ministers of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, ended Friday amid tense disagreements over how to address territorial claims in the sea, which is claimed by China and in part by the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Taiwan and Brunei.

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, who attended the talks, had pressed for discussion of a multinational agreement to ease tensions—a move opposed by China, which prefers to negotiate with each nation separately. But Southeast Asian nations argued over how hard to press the Chinese, with countries such as Cambodia resisting any steps that would embarrass China, and the Philippines.

Philippines says China warship is in its territory: The Philippines says a Chinese warship entered an area it claims in the South China Sea and ran aground on a shoal, as tensions continue between the two countries over a separate territorial dispute. Foreign affairs spokesman Raul Hernandez said Saturday that Manila wants Beijing to explain why the Chinese frigate became stuck on Half Moon Shoal, about 110 kilometers (70 miles) from the western province of Palawan.

"We need to find out what really happened with the Chinese frigate in our territory," Hernandez said. He said the Philippine Embassy in Beijing has been instructed to inform China's Foreign Ministry that Manila is "willing to help the frigate get out of there." Defense department spokesman Peter Paul Galvez said a military aircraft spotted six other Chinese ships near the stricken vessel on Saturday.You know China ran that ship aground on purpose to have ab excuse to have a presence there and to keep their military ships there. You know damn well they will not accept the Philippine's help.


Japan's plan to buy the disputed Tiaoyutai island group provoked a Chinese live ammunition exercise

China, US seek to calm South China Sea tensions: The United States and China signaled a willingness on Thursday to work together on "sensitive issues" in a move to cool tensions between rival claimants to the potentially oil-rich and increasingly militarized South China Sea.

Long-simmering tensions in the waters have entered a more contentious chapter this year as the six parties who claim the territory search deeper into the disputed waters for energy supplies while building up their navies and defense alliances. Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi said Beijing was ready to work with Washington "to expand our common ground, respect each other, properly handle differences on sensitive issues, and push forward" relations.

Why won't China sign the South China Sea code of conduct? (+video) The agreement, raised at the Association of South East Asian Nations in Cambodia, would be the 10th covering essentially the same territorial dispute since the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. The idea is that it would spell out what ships should do to avoid a clash but it wouldn't actually spell out how to resolve competing claims, according to regional news media.

Japan's plan to buy the disputed Tiaoyutai island group in the East China Sea has provoked a Chinese announcement that it will stage a maritime live ammunition exercise July 10-15, according to local media reports. In Taiwan, President Ma Ying-jeou said Saturday that there will be no concessions on the nation's sovereignty over the Tiaoyutai islands.

After Japan announced plans to purchase the island chain from its private owners by the end of the year, local media said this means Japan is trying to "nationalize" the disputed territory. The island group, some 100 nautical miles northeast of Taiwan, is known as the Senkaku islands in Japan and as the Diaoyutai islands in China, both of which claim sovereignty over the uninhabited islands. Taiwan also claims sovereignty over the islands, and has deployed coast guard boats to protect its fishermen operating in the area.

China, Japan Face Off Near Disputed Islands: Following days of hostile rhetoric since Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda said his government was considering purchasing the islands, now privately owned, the face off fueled concerns that the island row will strain the burgeoning economic ties between the two Asian powers. Spokesmen from the two governments offered sharp words following Wednesday's incident, each emphasizing sovereignty over the islands, known as Senkaku in Japan and Diaoyu in China.

"It is very clear that the Senkaku Islands are Japan's inherent territory both from historical and legal perspectives," Japan's chief cabinet secretary, Osamu Fujimura, said. "And in reality, Japan effectively controls them." At a daily briefing in Beijing, Chinese government spokesman Liu Weimin said, "The Diaoyu island and its affiliated islets have been China's inherent territory since ancient times…China does not accept Japanese representations over it."

This is just one more confrontation you can only see ending in war rather than Diplomacy and sharing the wealth!

The long run up to the China sea's conflict and the US and allies verse Russia and China competing naval muscle flexing I mean exercises

Being in a superior position puts one in a unique position of power and that power must be handled gracefully, with humility, responsibly, and not abused. That is something I taught all my sons and America under Bush did a lousy job of handling. I am a little worried that China too is getting a little too heavy handed and abusive with her new position of power and beginning to take what she wants instead of being content with what she has which is what I constantly lecture has to be the case if we are to have a future. The time when man and the planet could handle war and colonialism is over, period or else!

We are Taiwan's, Vietnam's, Australia's, and Japan's protectors. As China flex's their military muscles in the area we are not supposed to worry. Just what are we supposed to think they are going to do with their advanced weaponry, missiles, stealth aircraft, aircraft carriers and the like. Their threats are going to become more ominous until they cannot be ignored and it is too late. We have been here before. The world was not supposed to worry as Hitler built his arsenal and we know how that turned out.



James Joiner
Gardner, Ma
http://anaverageamericanpatriot.blogspot.com

Philippines, US start joint naval exercise as tension Mounts Between Vietnam, China in South China Sea

Philippines May Ask US to Send Spy Planes to South China Sea:

US to shift most of naval fleet to Pacific by 2020 because of growing tension with China and our growing list of protectorates.

Philippines, US start joint naval exercise: The Philippines and the US formally opened a nine-day joint naval exercise in the southern Philippine city of General Santos on Monday, according to army official. Armed Forces Eastern Mindanao Command Chief Lt Gen Jorge Segovia and US Ambassador to the Philippines Harry Tomas led the formal opening of the annual training exercise more known as Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT).

Philippine and US Navy and Coast Guard personnel will participate in CARAT. Armed Forces Spokesman Colonel Arnulfo Marcelo Burgos said the exercise will test the personnel and the naval assets' operational readiness of both countries and improve Philippine naval defense.

Tension Mounts Between Vietnam, China :Vietnam’s new Law on the Sea, passed last week, has sparked a fresh round of tensions with China about competing territory in the South China Sea. The face-off with China quickly escalated. The same day Vietnam passed the Law on the Sea, China’s Foreign Ministry announced it had raised the level of governance on three groups of islands in the South China Sea from county to prefectural level, under the control of Sansha city.

The seat of government will be on Woody Island, which is part of the Paracels, an area China took from what was then South Vietnam in 1974.Vietnam’s Foreign Ministry calls the move illegal and says the lots set aside by China were entirely within Vietnam's 200 nautical mile exclusive economic zone and continental shelf, as laid out in the Untied Nations Law on the Sea.

As the US to shift most of naval fleet to Pacific by 2020 because of growing tension with China and our growing list of protectorates.

China's military warns of confrontation over seas: China's military warned the United States that U.S.-Philippine military exercises have raised risks of armed confrontation over the disputed South China Sea, in the toughest high-level warning yet after weeks of tension. China's official Liberation Army Daily warned that recent jostling with the Philippines over disputed seas where both countries have sent ships could boil over into outright conflict, and laid much of the blame at Washington's door.

As we discussed there have been at least three cases of groups of Chinese military ships crossing through the area of Okinawa since November 2008, first 4 ships then 6 then 8 and now 10 including destroyers and submarines. That case appeared to be the first involving surfaced submarines. The group of 10 ships, including the submarines, was observed about 90 miles (140 kilometers) southwest of Okinawa in international waters.

Two missile destroyers and three frigate ships from the same group were spotted participating in a flight exercise of carrier-based helicopters April 7-9, the Defense Ministry's Joint Staff Office said in a statement The war ships were in international waters but close to Okinawa and Japan was not notified. That area as you may know has natural resources under the ocean and islands claimed by both Nations. It is important that we stay in Okinawa as China plays a more important role in Asia and around the world as she gains strength militarily and economically as we just discussed.

As most know by now China also now has a retrofitted Russian carrier and is in the process of building her own in order to help further her demands that all the seas near China are hers. It is no wonder that being the guardian of all the nations around China we would be moving our navies to the area and any move to the area would be interpreted as a move to counter China.

Japan expressed concern over what it called a lack of transparency in China's massive defence spending, saying the secrecy posed a "threat" to Tokyo. China's military budget jumped 11.2 percent year on year to $106 billion in 2012, a rise that has caused unease around the region and especially in Tokyo.

Japan's Parliamentary senior vice-minister of defense Shu Watanabe said. "There is expansion of the military budget and that is not transparent," he told defence chiefs and senior officials attending an Asia security summit, the Shangri-La Dialogue, in Singapore.

US to shift most of naval fleet to Pacific by 2020: US will shift the majority of its naval fleet to the Pacific by 2020 as part of a new strategic focus on Asia, Pentagon chief Leon Panetta told a summit in Singapore on Saturday. The decision to deploy more ships to the Pacific Ocean, along with expanding a network of military partnerships, was part of a "steady, deliberate" effort to bolster the US role in an area deemed vital to America's future, he said.

And he insisted the switch in strategy was not a challenge to China, saying it was compatible with the development and growth of the fast-growing Asian power. Panetta said "by 2020, the Navy will re-posture its forces from today's roughly 50/50 percent split between the Pacific and the Atlantic to about a 60/40 split between those oceans. "That will include six aircraft carriers in this region, a majority of our cruisers, destroyers, littoral combat ships, and submarines." The US Navy currently has a fleet of 285 ships, with about half of those vessels deployed or assigned to the Pacific.

Other nations must take stand on China: Philippines: The Philippine foreign secretary called on other nations to take a stand on China's new aggressiveness in a simmering territorial dispute over a shoal in the South China Sea. Albert del Rosario on Sunday warned in a statement that other nations would be affected by China's claim over the mineral-rich area if they did not speak up now, like the Philippines is doing.

He added that China's efforts to claim the entire South China Sea as its territory was "clearly baseless." The statement came amid increased tensions after China deployed ships near the Scarborough Shoal, an outcropping in the South China Sea just about 230 kilometres (140 miles) from the Philippines' main island of Luzon. The nearest Chinese land mass from Scarborough Shoal is Hainan province, 1,200 kilometres, (750 miles) to the northwest, according to Philippine naval maps given to the media.

The six days of Chinese-Russian drills that took place in the Yellow Sea off the city of Qingdao in Shandong province on China's east coast, the official China News Service said. China and Russia have held four joint military drills since 2005, but these are the first dedicated naval exercises, a Chinese expert said. Yin Zhuo, who advises the Chinese navy, said the number of ships involved was unprecedented - China has 16 naval vessels and two submarines taking part in this exercise while Russia has four warships.

Japan's defense ministry said in a recent report that China was becoming increasingly active in waters near Japanese territory while Russia was holding more frequent military exercises in its far east region. These exercises by the way are going on at the same time as our build up in Australia to hem China in and our on going naval exercise with the Philippines.

The long run up to the China sea's conflict and the US and allies verse Russia and China competing naval muscle flexing I mean exercises

Being in a superior position puts one in a unique position of power and that power must be handled gracefully, with humility, responsibly, and not abused. That is something I taught all my sons and America under Bush did a lousy job of handling. I am a little worried that China too is getting a little too heavy handed and abusive with her new position of power and beginning to take what she wants instead of being content with what she has which is what I constantly lecture has to be the case if we are to have a future. The time when man and the planet could handle war and colonialism is over, period or else!

We are Taiwan's, Vietnam's, Australior's, and Japan's protectors. As China flex's their military muscles in the area we are not supposed to worry. Just what are we supposed to think they are going to do with their advanced weaponry, missiles, stealth aircraft, aircraft carriers and the like. Their threats are going to become more ominous until they cannot be ignored and it is too late. We have been here before. The world was not supposed to worry as Hitler built his arsenal and we know how that turned out.



James Joiner
Gardner, Ma
http://anaverageamericanpatriot.blogspot.com

US to shift most of naval fleet to Pacific by 2020

China's military warns of confrontation over seas: China's military warned the United States that U.S.-Philippine military exercises have raised risks of armed confrontation over the disputed South China Sea, in the toughest high-level warning yet after weeks of tension. China's official Liberation Army Daily warned that recent jostling with the Philippines over disputed seas where both countries have sent ships could boil over into outright conflict, and laid much of the blame at Washington's door.

As we discussed there have been at least three cases of groups of Chinese military ships crossing through the area of Okinawa since November 2008, first 4 ships then 6 then 8 and now 10 including destroyers and submarines. That case appeared to be the first involving surfaced submarines. The group of 10 ships, including the submarines, was observed about 90 miles (140 kilometers) southwest of Okinawa in international waters.

Two missile destroyers and three frigate ships from the same group were spotted participating in a flight exercise of carrier-based helicopters April 7-9, the Defense Ministry's Joint Staff Office said in a statement The war ships were in international waters but close to Okinawa and Japan was not notified. That area as you may know has natural resources under the ocean and islands claimed by both Nations. It is important that we stay in Okinawa as China plays a more important role in Asia and around the world as she gains strength militarily and economically as we just discussed.

As most know by now China also now has a retrofitted Russian carrier and is in the process of building her own in order to help further her demands that all the seas near China are hers. It is no wonder that being the guardian of all the nations around China we would be moving our navies to the area and any move to the area would be interpreted as a move to counter China.

Japan on Saturday expressed concern over what it called a lack of transparency in China's massive defence spending, saying the secrecy posed a "threat" to Tokyo. China's military budget jumped 11.2 percent year on year to $106 billion in 2012, a rise that has caused unease around the region and especially in Tokyo.

Japan's Parliamentary senior vice-minister of defense Shu Watanabe said. "There is expansion of the military budget and that is not transparent," he told defence chiefs and senior officials attending an Asia security summit, the Shangri-La Dialogue, in Singapore.

US to shift most of naval fleet to Pacific by 2020: US will shift the majority of its naval fleet to the Pacific by 2020 as part of a new strategic focus on Asia, Pentagon chief Leon Panetta told a summit in Singapore on Saturday. The decision to deploy more ships to the Pacific Ocean, along with expanding a network of military partnerships, was part of a "steady, deliberate" effort to bolster the US role in an area deemed vital to America's future, he said.

And he insisted the switch in strategy was not a challenge to China, saying it was compatible with the development and growth of the fast-growing Asian power. Panetta said "by 2020, the Navy will re-posture its forces from today's roughly 50/50 percent split between the Pacific and the Atlantic to about a 60/40 split between those oceans. "That will include six aircraft carriers in this region, a majority of our cruisers, destroyers, littoral combat ships, and submarines." The US Navy currently has a fleet of 285 ships, with about half of those vessels deployed or assigned to the Pacific.

Other nations must take stand on China: Philippines: The Philippine foreign secretary called on other nations to take a stand on China's new aggressiveness in a simmering territorial dispute over a shoal in the South China Sea. Albert del Rosario on Sunday warned in a statement that other nations would be affected by China's claim over the mineral-rich area if they did not speak up now, like the Philippines is doing.

He added that China's efforts to claim the entire South China Sea as its territory was "clearly baseless." The statement came amid increased tensions after China deployed ships near the Scarborough Shoal, an outcropping in the South China Sea just about 230 kilometres (140 miles) from the Philippines' main island of Luzon. The nearest Chinese land mass from Scarborough Shoal is Hainan province, 1,200 kilometres, (750 miles) to the northwest, according to Philippine naval maps given to the media.

The six days of Chinese-Russian drills that took place in the Yellow Sea off the city of Qingdao in Shandong province on China's east coast, the official China News Service said. China and Russia have held four joint military drills since 2005, but these are the first dedicated naval exercises, a Chinese expert said. Yin Zhuo, who advises the Chinese navy, said the number of ships involved was unprecedented - China has 16 naval vessels and two submarines taking part in this exercise while Russia has four warships.

Japan's defense ministry said in a recent report that China was becoming increasingly active in waters near Japanese territory while Russia was holding more frequent military exercises in its far east region. These exercises by the way are going on at the same time as our build up in Australia to hem China in and our on going naval exercise with the Philippines.

The long run up to the China sea's conflict and the US and allies verse Russia and China competing naval muscle flexing I mean exercises

Being in a superior position puts one in a unique position of power and that power must be handled gracefully, with humility, responsibly, and not abused. That is something I taught all my sons and America under Bush did a lousy job of handling. I am a little worried that China too is getting a little too heavy handed and abusive with her new position of power and beginning to take what she wants instead of being content with what she has which is what I constantly lecture has to be the case if we are to have a future. The time when man and the planet could handle war and colonialism is over, period or else!

We are Taiwan's and Japan's protectors. As China flex's their military muscles in the area we are not supposed to worry. Just what are we supposed to think they are going to do with their advanced weaponry, missiles, stealth aircraft, aircraft carriers and the like. Their threats are going to become more ominous until they cannot be ignored and it is too late. We have been here before. The world was not supposed to worry as Hitler built his arsenal and we know how that turned out.



James Joiner
Gardner, Ma
http://anaverageamericanpatriot.blogspot.com