China Sends Armed Jets Over Disputed Waters In Response to U.S. Naval Presence

[Purveyor]

The presence of a U.S. destroyer in the area last week infuriated Beijing

Nash Jenkins @pnashjenkins
11:27 PM ET

Chinese naval jets armed with missiles have executed training drills over disputed waters near Vietnam in the South China Sea in an apparent response to what Beijing sees as provocation by the U.S. in the region.

Photos released by the Chinese navy on Saturday show armed fighter jets that military experts say operated out of an airstrip on Woody Island in the Paracel archipelago, the South China Morning Post reports.

The Paracels, along with the larger Spratly Islands to the southeast, are the subject of an increasingly tense territorial dispute between China and several of its smaller regional neighbors, notably Vietnam and the Philippines. Ignoring the maritime boundaries of nearby states, China has occupied and artificially expanded some islets, putatively for military purposes.

Last week, the U.S. Navy sent a guided-missile destroyer within the 12-nautical-mile radius zone surrounding reefs in the Spratly archipelago, saying the ship was merely “exercising the right of freedom of navigation in international waters” — a tacit rejection of Beijing’s territorial claims. The gesture infuriated Chinese officials, including Chinese Navy chief Admiral Wu Shengli, who told Admiral John Richardson, his American counterpart, that a similar “dangerous [and] provocative act” could in the future lead to war between the two superpowers.

more...

http://time.com/4096086/south-china-sea-jets-paracel/

[MisterP]

1. maybe we'll go to war on Vietnam's behalf o.O

[Recursion]

2. Isn't that what we did 50 years ago? (nt)

[Ghost in the Machine]

3. "a similar “dangerous provocative act” could in the future lead to war between the two superpowers."

Time to start keeping an eye on all of the Chinese restaurants and buffets that have sprung up across America. They are really training camps for soldiers and spies!!11!!!



Do i really need the emoji??


Peace,

Ghost

[jen63]

6. I had myself a big old eye roll,

at that "warning."

[HereSince1628]

8. Seems to me, General Tzao's army of chefs also make 'killer' eggrolls.

And they have a time-warp weapon that allows them to make make 100 year old eggs in 10 days or less!

[NBachers]

4. Just wait 'till Donald Trump gets in there. He'll show them Chinese who's boss!

[jen63]

7. Yeah, through his Twitter account. n/t

[davidpdx]

5. Considering that China is laying claim to the entire South China Sea

including areas that are part of the sovereignty of other countries what they are doing is in essence controlling air and sea traffic. The more of these bases they build out on shoals or reefs the closer they are going to get to having complete control of traffic in the area.

[Bonobo]

9. +1. Scary shit. nt

[malaise]

10. And how do they differ from the US who thinks

they control the entire planet?

[davidpdx]

12. You must have cotton in your ears

I never said the US is perfect. The freedom to navigate international waters is part of international law. Considering the fact that they are trying to close down the entire South China Sea, someone with at least half a brain should be able to see the economic issues. I suppose you would think it would be quite funny if people in Northeastern Asia were not able to get oil during the winter.

[JPZenger]

11. I was surprised to find out other countries are also building artificial islands in the area

We only hear about China, but other countries including Taiwan are also building artificial islands in the area.