China’s armed forces are to extend their operations and its air force will become an offensive as well as defensive force for the first time, in a major shift in policy that will strengthen fears of accidental conflict.
A policy document by the state council, or cabinet, said China faced a “grave and complex array of security threats”, justifying the change.
The People’s Liberation Army, including its navy and air force, will be allowed to “project power” further beyond its borders at sea and more assertively in the air in order to safeguard its maritime possessions, the white paper stated.
[SUP]Chinese dredging vessels in the waters around Mischief Reef
[/SUP]
The navy will add “open seas protection” to a traditional remit of “offshore waters defence”, it said.
The posture risks escalating the tension over disputed islands in the South China Sea and elsewhere in the Pacific, where the United States is determined to protect the interests of allies like Taiwan and the Philippines.
Only last week, a US aircraft ignored repeated warnings from the Chinese military to fly a reconnaissance mission over the islands.
[SUP]The on-going reclamation by China at Subi reef seen from Pagasa island
[/SUP]
Global Times, a tabloid newspaper run by the Communist Party, said that China might have to “accept” there would be conflict with the United States.
“If the United States’ bottom line is that China has to halt its activities, then a US-China war is inevitable in the South China Sea”, said the paper, which is often seen as a mouth-piece of hardline nationalists in the government in Beijing.
A policy document by the state council, or cabinet, said China faced a “grave and complex array of security threats”, justifying the change.
The People’s Liberation Army, including its navy and air force, will be allowed to “project power” further beyond its borders at sea and more assertively in the air in order to safeguard its maritime possessions, the white paper stated.
[SUP]Chinese dredging vessels in the waters around Mischief Reef
[/SUP]
The navy will add “open seas protection” to a traditional remit of “offshore waters defence”, it said.
The posture risks escalating the tension over disputed islands in the South China Sea and elsewhere in the Pacific, where the United States is determined to protect the interests of allies like Taiwan and the Philippines.
Only last week, a US aircraft ignored repeated warnings from the Chinese military to fly a reconnaissance mission over the islands.
[SUP]The on-going reclamation by China at Subi reef seen from Pagasa island
[/SUP]
Global Times, a tabloid newspaper run by the Communist Party, said that China might have to “accept” there would be conflict with the United States.
“If the United States’ bottom line is that China has to halt its activities, then a US-China war is inevitable in the South China Sea”, said the paper, which is often seen as a mouth-piece of hardline nationalists in the government in Beijing.
State media reported on Tuesday that Beijing had begun building two lighthouses on reefs in the Spratly Islands, a smattering of outcrops that are claimed by an array of countries including not only China but also Vietnam and the Philippines.
Last month, satellite imagery revealed the Chinese had almost completed an air strip on another reef - Fiery Cross - while they are turning another rock, Mischief Reef, into a full island through land reclamation.
The Global Times article described the construction of runways, harbour facilities and buildings on the disputed Spratly Islands as the nation’s “most important bottom line”.
Speaking at a press conference in Beijing, Yang Yujun, a spokesman for the Defence Ministry, dismissed international criticism of China’s policies in the South China Sea, claiming the work was the same as building roads and homes on mainland China and that it would benefit “the whole of international society”.
“From the perspective of sovereignty, there is absolutely no difference”, he said, adding that “some external countries are also busy meddling in South China Sea affairs”.
Analysts say neither Washington nor Beijing appear to be in the mood to back down and that there is a serious risk of a minor incident in airspace around the islands escalating rapidly.
“I think the concern has to be that China misjudges the situation”, said Robert Dujarric, director of the Institute of Contemporary Asian Studies at the Japan campus of Temple University.
“Neither party wants a war if it can be avoided, but there are red lines for both sides”, he said. “I worry whether Beijing considers the US to be a declining power and assumes that Washington will back down if it shoots down a US observation aircraft”.
Washington chose to “de-escalate” a major crisis that blew up after a Chinese fighter collided with a US Navy intelligence-gathering aircraft off Hainan Island in April 2001.
However, Prof. Dujarric said there would be a different response if a similar incident were to occur in what Washington insists is international air space over the South China Sea.
Recent developments have provoked new concerns in the region, with Ma Ying-jeou, the president of Taiwan, calling for the different nations laying claim to the South China Sea to put their differences aside and carry out joint development of natural resources.
Last month, satellite imagery revealed the Chinese had almost completed an air strip on another reef - Fiery Cross - while they are turning another rock, Mischief Reef, into a full island through land reclamation.
The Global Times article described the construction of runways, harbour facilities and buildings on the disputed Spratly Islands as the nation’s “most important bottom line”.
Speaking at a press conference in Beijing, Yang Yujun, a spokesman for the Defence Ministry, dismissed international criticism of China’s policies in the South China Sea, claiming the work was the same as building roads and homes on mainland China and that it would benefit “the whole of international society”.
“From the perspective of sovereignty, there is absolutely no difference”, he said, adding that “some external countries are also busy meddling in South China Sea affairs”.
Analysts say neither Washington nor Beijing appear to be in the mood to back down and that there is a serious risk of a minor incident in airspace around the islands escalating rapidly.
“I think the concern has to be that China misjudges the situation”, said Robert Dujarric, director of the Institute of Contemporary Asian Studies at the Japan campus of Temple University.
“Neither party wants a war if it can be avoided, but there are red lines for both sides”, he said. “I worry whether Beijing considers the US to be a declining power and assumes that Washington will back down if it shoots down a US observation aircraft”.
Washington chose to “de-escalate” a major crisis that blew up after a Chinese fighter collided with a US Navy intelligence-gathering aircraft off Hainan Island in April 2001.
However, Prof. Dujarric said there would be a different response if a similar incident were to occur in what Washington insists is international air space over the South China Sea.
Recent developments have provoked new concerns in the region, with Ma Ying-jeou, the president of Taiwan, calling for the different nations laying claim to the South China Sea to put their differences aside and carry out joint development of natural resources.
whatever needs to be dropped, Obama will drop. It's the one thing the least prepared and most racist man in the room excels at. He'd let them have AK, get rid of that there oil reserve problem we have. Plus all them there crackers living there be using a lot of oil to heat their homes. Win win (PS: it helps he doesn't know where AK is, unlike the other 56 states he's visited)
China rushing to get things done before the 2016 elections, as they realize even a Green Party Candidate would present a bigger threat to their imperialistic desires.
China rushing to get things done before the 2016 elections, as they realize even a Green Party Candidate would present a bigger threat to their imperialistic desires.
http://www.marketwatch.com/story/ch...in-south-china-sea-2015-10-27?dist=beforebell
[h=1]China says it warned U.S. destroyer sent to islands in South China Sea[/h]
BEIJING — Chinese authorities on Tuesday said they monitored, followed and issued warnings to a U.S. warship that sailed near islands claimed by Beijing in the South China Sea.
“The warship, USS Lassen, illegally entered waters near relevant islands and reefs within China’s Nansha Islands without permission from the Chinese government,” Lu Kang, a spokesman for China’s Foreign Ministry, said in a statement published on the ministry’s website. “To this the Chinese side expresses its strong discontentment and resolute opposition.”
The comments were the first confirmation from Beijing that a U.S. Navy vessel passed close to Chinese-controlled islands and reefs in the Spratlys, known to the Chinese as the Nansha Islands, and the subject of conflicting territorial claims between China and several Southeast Asian nations.
U.S. defense officials earlier Tuesday said the USS Lassen, a Navy destroyer, sailed within 12 nautical miles of artificial islands claimed by China, in a move to assert “freedom of navigation” in what the U.S. says are international waters.
The U.S. operation “threatened China’s sovereignty and security interests” and “caused harm to regional peace and stability,” Lu said. “The relevant Chinese departments have, in accordance with the law, monitored, trailed and warned the U.S. vessel.”
“We will continue to closely monitor the situation in the relevant waters and airspace, and take all necessary measures as needed,” the statement added. “The Chinese side strongly urges the U.S. side to negotiate seriously with China, immediately rectify its mistakes, and not to undertake any risky and provocative actions that threaten Chinese sovereignty and security interests.”
didn't this same thing happen awhile back?
'.....immediately rectify its mistakes....'
lol
[h=1]China says it warned U.S. destroyer sent to islands in South China Sea[/h]
BEIJING — Chinese authorities on Tuesday said they monitored, followed and issued warnings to a U.S. warship that sailed near islands claimed by Beijing in the South China Sea.
“The warship, USS Lassen, illegally entered waters near relevant islands and reefs within China’s Nansha Islands without permission from the Chinese government,” Lu Kang, a spokesman for China’s Foreign Ministry, said in a statement published on the ministry’s website. “To this the Chinese side expresses its strong discontentment and resolute opposition.”
The comments were the first confirmation from Beijing that a U.S. Navy vessel passed close to Chinese-controlled islands and reefs in the Spratlys, known to the Chinese as the Nansha Islands, and the subject of conflicting territorial claims between China and several Southeast Asian nations.
The U.S. operation “threatened China’s sovereignty and security interests” and “caused harm to regional peace and stability,” Lu said. “The relevant Chinese departments have, in accordance with the law, monitored, trailed and warned the U.S. vessel.”
“We will continue to closely monitor the situation in the relevant waters and airspace, and take all necessary measures as needed,” the statement added. “The Chinese side strongly urges the U.S. side to negotiate seriously with China, immediately rectify its mistakes, and not to undertake any risky and provocative actions that threaten Chinese sovereignty and security interests.”
didn't this same thing happen awhile back?
'.....immediately rectify its mistakes....'
lol
except China has declared she owns the China Sea area. That there is 'no dispute'
https://ca.news.yahoo.com/chinas-military-says-respond-us-navy-incursions-necessary-123814164.html
[h=1]China's military says it will respond to US Navy incursions will 'all necessary' means[/h]
"We would urge the U.S. not to continue down the wrong path. But if the U.S. side does continue, we will take all necessary measures according to the need," Yang said. China's resolve to safeguard its national sovereignty and security interests is "rock-solid," he added.
amazing how wealth can transform. Did China ever THANK the US for making her the gigantic economic power she's become?....25 yrs ago she was a third world country; a dash of US ingenuity and stupidity and she's now become a tough guy.....
.......dagone................
https://ca.news.yahoo.com/chinas-military-says-respond-us-navy-incursions-necessary-123814164.html
[h=1]China's military says it will respond to US Navy incursions will 'all necessary' means[/h]
"We would urge the U.S. not to continue down the wrong path. But if the U.S. side does continue, we will take all necessary measures according to the need," Yang said. China's resolve to safeguard its national sovereignty and security interests is "rock-solid," he added.
amazing how wealth can transform. Did China ever THANK the US for making her the gigantic economic power she's become?....25 yrs ago she was a third world country; a dash of US ingenuity and stupidity and she's now become a tough guy.....
.......dagone................
