Thursday, October 08, 2015

The Great Game of Chicken continues


Diplomacy is essentially a matter of reducing friction between nation states. Sometimes, however, it also involves a careful (we hope) application of friction to make a point. Such a point is approaching in the South China Sea.
The United States is considering sailing warships close to artificial islands that China has built in the South China Sea to signal it does not recognize Chinese territorial claims on the area, a U.S. defense official said on Thursday.

The Financial Times cited a senior U.S. official as saying that within the next two weeks, American ships would sail within 12-nautical-mile zones that China claims as territory around islands it has built in the Spratly chain.

The Navy Times quoted U.S. officials as saying the action could take place “within days” but awaits final approval from Barack Obama’s administration.

A U.S. defense official declined to confirm that any decision had been made but referred to remarks in congressional testimony last month by U.S. Assistant Defense Secretary David Shear that “all options are on the table.”

“We are looking at this,” the official said, on condition of anonymity because the person was not authorized to discuss the matter with the media.

U.S. Defense Secretary Ash Carter said last month, in reference to China’s South China Sea claims, that the United States would “fly, sail and operate wherever international law allows, as U.S. forces do all over the world.”

The White House declined to comment on potential classified naval operations.

In May the Chinese navy issued eight warnings to the crew of a U.S. P8-A Poseidon surveillance aircraft when it conducted flights near the artificial islands, according to CNN, which was aboard the U.S. aircraft.
Made ya blink! No ya dint! We are looking forward to a couple of 'principled stands' meeting where principles shouldn't go.

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