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"Strongly Dissatisfied" China Warns US "Accident" Is "Highly Likely" In South China Sea

Tyler Durden's picture




 

Things are escalating rapidly in the South China Sea where Beijing has figured out an innovative solution to the notion of “disputed waters.” 

As regular readers are by now acutely aware, China appears to have adopted the maritime boundary equivalent of the old “possession is nine tenths of the law” axiom because Chinese dredgers have been busy for some time now creating islands out of reefs in the Spratly archipelago. Once the islands are complete, China promptly colonizes them. Next comes the construction of cement plants, ports, and 10,000 ft airstrips. 

Not surprisingly, Washington isn’t fond of China’s “sandcastles” and everyone from President Obama to the Pentagon is now shouting from the rooftops about territorial sovereignty and Chinese “bullying.” 

The US took it up a notch this week when it flew a spy plane over Fiery Cross Reef, presumably just to see what would happen. A CNN camera crew went along for the ride. What Washington discovered is that when it comes to protecting its new islands, bashful China is not.  “This is the Chinese Navy… YOU GO!” was the message that came over the radio. 

The rhetoric and sabre rattling haven’t let up a bit since then and in fact, there’s been a steady stream of quotables from both sides over the past 48 hours. Here’s the latest. 

Via Reuters:

The United States vowed on Thursday to keep up air and sea patrols in international waters after the Chinese navy repeatedly warned a U.S. surveillance plane to leave the airspace over artificial islands China is creating in the disputed South China Sea…

 

The incident, along with recent Chinese warnings to Philippine military aircraft to leave areas around the Spratly archipelago in the South China Sea, suggested Beijing is trying to enforce a military exclusion zone above its new islands there.

 

Some security experts worry about the risk of confrontation, especially after a U.S. official said last week that the Pentagon was considering sending military aircraft and ships to assert freedom of navigation around the Chinese-made islands.

 

The senior U.S. diplomat for the East Asia, Assistant Secretary of State Daniel Russel, told a media briefing in Washington the U.S. reconnaissance flight was "entirely appropriate" and that U.S. naval forces and military aircraft would "continue to fully exercise" the right to operate in international waters and airspace.


He said the United States would go further to preserve the ability of all countries to move in international waters and airspace.

 

"Nobody in their right mind is going to try to stop the U.S. Navy from operating - that would not be a good bet," he said.

 

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi last week asserted Beijing's right to reclaim the reefs and said China's determination to protect its interests was "as hard as a rock."

 

China has also said it had every right to set up an Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ) in the South China Sea but that current conditions did not warrant one.

 

ADIZs are used by some nations to extend control beyond national borders, requiring civilian and military aircraft to identify themselves or face possible military interception.

And as if that isn’t enough, here’s more from a separate Reuters piece:

China said on Friday it was "strongly dissatisfied" after a U.S. military plane flew over part of the South China Sea near where China is building artificial islands, and called on the United States to stop such action or risk causing an accident…

 

Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei said the Chinese military drove away the U.S. aircraft, in accordance with relevant regulations, labeling the U.S. action a security threat to China's islands and reefs.

 

"Such action is likely to cause an accident, it is very irresponsible and dangerous and detrimental to regional peace and stability. We express our strong dissatisfaction, we urge the U.S. to strictly abide by international law and international rules and refrain from taking any risky and provocative actions," he told a news conference.

It's impossible to overstate the magnitude of what China is attempting here. Beijing has literally created new sovereign territory in the middle of the ocean and is now effectively enforcing a no-fly zone.

And despite the rheotric out of Washington regarding how no one "in their right mind" would try to curtail the movement of American military operations, that is exactly what China did this week when it essentially told the P8-A Poseidon spy plane to either stop it with the spying or become a part of a reef underneath a Chinese sandcastle. 

We can't wait to see what happens next week.

 

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Sat, 05/23/2015 - 09:59 | 6124339 TeethVillage88s
TeethVillage88s's picture

Not sure what dsty is on about although I enjoyed the Jim Richards video about his work at NSA/CIA/DoD.

- After all we do engage in Economic Sanction and even Cuba experienced blockade for 50 years, Russia got whammy from both Europe and the USA

- Currency Wars are not talked about much now with Free Trade being all the Rage, but Japan, South Korea and others may buy USDs or US Bonds to make their dollars cheaper, China has forever kept it's money under valued

- European Banks have been in control of the US Banking all along since 1781 or earlier, clearly the Credit bubble has now joined the balance of trade problem and the Fiat printing problem

But Pentagon has been schizophrenic about it's treatment of Russia and China the Cold War foes. After the wall came down they had official policies which said no one cared about the USA as a Nation, whether mafia came into the states, ex-KGB/GRU, military married Russian... like DoD wants to create problems, get intelligence assets and info in place, then come in with the new solutions to request big budgets and weapons and wars

- Moscow issues travel warning over U.S. 'hunt' for Russians...
- Pentagon plans long-range missile defense radar in Alaska...

Sat, 05/23/2015 - 07:37 | 6124128 RhoneGSM
RhoneGSM's picture

All the maneuvering for strategic advantage around the world is always trumped by one little detail that is never forgotten by the world's leaders:

The U.S. is still the only country that has actually used a thermonuclear device against another country.

Just sayin....

Sat, 05/23/2015 - 10:22 | 6124390 litemine
litemine's picture

What is bothersome to the enviroment is the past use of Agent Orange and depleted Uranium.  Google babies born due to this use.......Sad.......Oh so sad.  If the USA belonged to a wORLD cOURT THE USA would fall financially faster sooner.

Sat, 05/23/2015 - 07:51 | 6124136 Zapporius
Zapporius's picture

Yankee go home

Sat, 05/23/2015 - 09:11 | 6124243 Omega_Man
Omega_Man's picture

US wants to place sub drones in China Sea..... complains about China's new islands while they float around in aircraft carriers.

what assholes US Gov are...

 

 

Sat, 05/23/2015 - 09:23 | 6124262 Omega_Man
Omega_Man's picture

be nice to see china build huge floating barges with S400's on them and position them all over the China sea, a few diesel subs per week, several barge aircraft carriers... that would be cool and easy to do... then we see who is boss in their own backyard

Sat, 05/23/2015 - 11:00 | 6124476 GMadScientist
GMadScientist's picture

I think I can extrapolate the consequences of that behavior...

http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2015-05-21/where-americas-airplanes-go-die

Sat, 05/23/2015 - 09:29 | 6124270 Omega_Man
Omega_Man's picture

I have been all over the USA and it's a dunghole. Hard to believe they think they are the exceptional indispensable people....probably won't be long before they are taken down a notch or two by a rising power... then it will be feast of the vultures. 

Just think... if US pushes hard enough, gets into an altercations and gets her nose bloodied... the markets will punish hard... all these stooge nations will have their puppets running from the hangman's noose. It will be over then.

Sat, 05/23/2015 - 09:31 | 6124279 Dixie Flatline
Dixie Flatline's picture

Hilarious watching the exact same ZH nihilist faggots post about how China will rout the USN, and they bitch about how Americans buy "cheap Chinese shit" from Wal-Mart.

The Duality of China, military juggernaut that manufactures shit.

Whatever...keep rooting for war.  ;)

Sat, 05/23/2015 - 09:34 | 6124283 Omega_Man
Omega_Man's picture

We don't need war, just need the US to stay home and mind her own business. Take care of her own people and stop pushing the ponzi scheme money. 

And this term you use 'faggot', liberals will lock you up for that. 

Sat, 05/23/2015 - 09:38 | 6124292 Dixie Flatline
Dixie Flatline's picture

Sockpuppetry is so 2006...

Sat, 05/23/2015 - 09:39 | 6124293 Omega_Man
Omega_Man's picture

besides... it is the US that needs the war... not the rest of the world. They keep prodding for war to save their position as world ponzi scheme money printing bully.

Sat, 05/23/2015 - 09:42 | 6124302 TeethVillage88s
TeethVillage88s's picture

You have to learn to hold two ideas in your mind at the same time. There is a lot of gray not just black and white.

Congress can pass a law to build a wall on the Mexican border, the law of the land. But like any law you have to have staffing, budget, facilities, resources, you have to monitor compliance, track the completion and results, and apparently you have to make sure the president doesn't influence the people in certain agencies to make sure it doesn't get done or get enforced.

Who says businessmen in China can't send shit work to USA?

and then... Obviously our government, foreign police, domestic policy, economy can use all of our focus instead of projecting power around the globe other than keeping sea routes(channels open).

- SENATE REPUBLICANS GIVE OBAMA NEW POWERS
- DETAILS REMAIN 'CLASSIFIED'
http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/obama-wins-trade-victory-in-the-s...

Sat, 05/23/2015 - 09:46 | 6124311 Dixie Flatline
Dixie Flatline's picture

So that is why everyone is cheering for the USN to be decimated?  They want sea routes open?

 

...OK...

Sat, 05/23/2015 - 10:00 | 6124341 Omega_Man
Omega_Man's picture

As US corporations and banks can self  regulate. I am sure the sea lanes can do the same. Poor excuse for world bullying. Hopefully China will sell Iran carrier killer missles to keep them away. US has some nerve sending carriers so close to other nations. They need to be pushed back into open waters.

Sat, 05/23/2015 - 23:30 | 6126063 STP
STP's picture

You, Sir, are wrong.  China makes whatever quality you specify.  If you want Wal-Mart crap, they'll make that crap, but if you want First Class goods, they are very, very capable.  Don't make the same mistake, that we Americans made in the 50's and 60's, thinking that a country like Japan can only make crap goods.  The Japs, sure surprised the US Automotive Industry, didn't they?

Sat, 05/23/2015 - 10:07 | 6124353 Dathedr
Dathedr's picture

The seas is not called South China Sea for no reason. Muricanos have no business there. It's Chinese realm. I would advise them to shoot down any Muricano aircraft or boat that enters Chinese territorial waters uninvited or without permission.

 

Sat, 05/23/2015 - 11:04 | 6124485 GMadScientist
GMadScientist's picture

Hmmm....I see hundreds of little islands in that sea and most of them are populated by other countries.

May as well call it the West Phillipines, North Malaysian, or East Vietnam Sea.

Sat, 05/23/2015 - 11:27 | 6124526 Dathedr
Dathedr's picture

But it's called South China Sea. Not Murican sea. NOT MURICAN. CHINESE. Comprendo?

 

http://shass.mit.edu/files/shass/cimg/news/2013/585_north_america_map.jpg

 

http://www.southchinasea.org/files/2011/08/Southeast-Asia-Reference-Map-...

 

You see there where your USA and where South China Sea is? Are you mentally handicapped?

 

 

 

Sat, 05/23/2015 - 23:57 | 6126107 Joe A
Joe A's picture

So spit on it and it is yours? Especially because it has your name on it?

I don't like the American Empire, or any empire for that matter but don't think that things will become better until Chinese rule.

Sat, 05/23/2015 - 10:21 | 6124359 Dathedr
Dathedr's picture

Besides, there is plenty of space close to Murican shores where Murican mercenaries (brave men and women how they call them) can enjoy their favourite activity: rolling in the mud. They love that (don't ask why; must be some cultural thing).

 

p.s.

Or rather lack of cultural "things." ehehe

Sat, 05/23/2015 - 10:11 | 6124360 Gohigher
Gohigher's picture

CNN, Farcebook, Youtube,  God, the DC pukes actually get away with using this shit as policy ?

FUBAR for no other reason than most Mericans are certified Ron White STUPID and really can never be fixed.

Sat, 05/23/2015 - 10:43 | 6124435 dsty
dsty's picture

as long as you go tit for tat you will get no where

there is plenty or wrong on both sides of both ponds

no real good guy here

just get your own stuff ready before september

you are not going to fix the world

too late ya'll

Sat, 05/23/2015 - 11:20 | 6124522 1stepcloser
1stepcloser's picture

start dumping US treasury notes into the sea, the US navy will back away..

Sat, 05/23/2015 - 17:05 | 6125231 AttilaTheHun
AttilaTheHun's picture

China has got wind of the TPP and is taking preventative medicine, that's all.

Sat, 05/23/2015 - 17:41 | 6125304 Atticus Finch
Atticus Finch's picture

I thought HAARP can be directed to create typhoons at any locality to blow this little sand castle to smithereens. Why all the excitement?

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