South China Sea News & Discussions, incl Spratly Islands News

[weaponwh]

they are establishing military base for sure, during peace time these base can be used for nav,rescue & shelter etc, but during war time it will be used as military base, supports etc.
that been said any rising power will expand its influence, from Spanish to brit to japan to US, there are tons of similar cases. in the 80s china don't really care about secure sea lane etc since it doesn't export much, but now most china import/export go through SCS and west pacific, and it import most its oil and commodities via these region. it become clear for them, security and influence in the region is much more important then before. the one belt one road plan through central asia is a way for china to by pass its reliance on sea route.

I don't think china even care about the resource in SCS, they have $$$, which they can buy resource from Russia/middle east/Canada/ausse/Africa/S.america. of course resource in SCS is just a bonus compare to secure sea lane. most these trade go through SCS or other sea lane

 

[weaponwh]

looks like move to counter china. from cnn or other news

President Barack Obama announced Monday that the United States is fully lifting a decades-long ban on the sale of military equipment to Vietnam.

In a joint news conference in Hanoi with Vietnamese President Tran Dai Quang, Obama said that the removal of the ban on lethal weapons was part of a deeper defense cooperation with the country and dismissed suggestions it was aimed at countering China's growing strength in the region

 

[ngatimozart]

looks like move to counter china. from cnn or other news

Mate, welcome to the forum. You are a newbie here so please read the rules and introduce yourself. One of the rules is no one liners. Defense news has story here.

 

[weaponwh]

i wonder whats this about

from fox news

foxnews.com/world/2016/06/30/sensitive-philippine-comments-on-sea-feud-aired-partly-on-tv dot html

MANILA, Philippines – The new Philippine foreign secretary has made sensitive remarks about territorial disputes in the South China Sea that were broadcast live by the state-run TV network before it abruptly cut away from its coverage of the new president's first Cabinet meeting.

Foreign Secretary Perfecto Yasay's remarks Thursday during the meeting between President Rodrigo Duterte and his Cabinet touched on how the government should respond to a much-anticipated international arbitration ruling on July 12.

Yasay spoke about his opposition to an apparent wish by foreign governments for Manila to issue a stronger statement on the territorial dispute if the tribunal rules favorably. It wasn't clear if he knew his remarks were being televised.

The Philippines challenged the validity of China's vast territorial claims in the 2013 case it filed against Beijing.

hopefully No one do anything to raise the tension again after the ruling. I don't think china will do anything unless phillippine do anything if court in favor for them.

 

[Think_Tank]

Hopefully No one do anything to raise the tension again after the ruling. I don't think china will do anything unless phillippine do anything if court in favor for them.

Should UNCLOS verdict will ask China to abandon the 9-dash line policy and immediate withdrawal from Philippine occupied island but China refused the Philippines has the right to take the matter within international court for punitive and criminal action. In similar manner US and allies may consider Chinese dishonor and disrespect of UNCLOS decision as a challenged to international communities where military conflict in the region is possible.

 

[Think_Tank]

Just an update of what is where. The US Navy put to sea with a majority of its capital ships, an impressive display of power, and perhaps a clear message to any would be adversaries.

To my understanding shifting of huge latest US naval forces in Asia is part of defense department tactical military strategy under re-balance of power in response to China's military dominance in the region.

 

[John Fedup]

Symbolic of their inadequacy, I would say. Now they'd better apologise properly, pay the family of the deceased, dismiss the officer responsible etc.

I don't think China will be intimidated by such acts of incompetence.

Agreed, it shows pi$$ poor training. The link doesn't indicate whether the detonation failure was intended or due to some kind of malfunction, regardless, it was fortunate it didn't.