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from the artificial-islands-part-of-real-dispute dept.
US warships sail in disputed South China Sea amid tensions
Navy warships have sailed near islands claimed by China in the disputed South China Sea twice in the past few days, the United States military told Reuters on Thursday, at a time of tension between the world's two largest economies.
The busy waterway is one of a number of flashpoints in the US-China relationship, which include a trade war, US sanctions, Hong Kong and Taiwan.
Earlier this week during high-level talks, China called on the US military to stop flexing its muscles in the South China Sea and adding "new uncertainties" over democratic Taiwan, which is seen as a wayward province and claimed by China.
[...] On Wednesday, the littoral combat ship Gabrielle Giffords travelled within 12 nautical miles of Mischief Reef[*], Commander Reann Mommsen, a spokeswoman for the US Navy's Seventh Fleet, told Reuters.
On Thursday, the destroyer Wayne E. Meyer challenged restrictions on innocent passage in the Paracel islands[**], Mommsen said.
"These missions are based in the rule of law and demonstrate our commitment to upholding the rights, freedoms, and lawful uses of the sea and airspace guaranteed to all nations," she added.
[...] China claims almost all the energy-rich waters of the South China Sea, where it has established military outposts on artificial islands.
However, Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan and Vietnam also have claims to parts of the sea.
The United States accuses China of militarising the South China Sea and trying to intimidate Asian neighbours who might want to exploit its extensive oil and gas reserves.
[*] Mischief Reef
[**] Paracel Islands
(Score: 2) by legont on Saturday November 23 2019, @08:25AM (3 children)
Thanks to the US sanctions, Russia has already made this choice. It is done and can't really be reversed. The whole eastern Siberia region is being built as part of China's economy; using Chinese money mind you.
"Wealth is the relentless enemy of understanding" - John Kenneth Galbraith.
(Score: 2) by Phoenix666 on Saturday November 23 2019, @11:31AM (2 children)
I wouldn't say so. Russia is playing a weak hand against a superpower, another imminent superpower on its eastern doorstep, and potentially another to the south (though those guys are a little preoccupied with their Pakistani rivals). They have a huge, resource rich territory in Siberia with very few people in it. Already 20 years ago the heirs apparent to power in Beijing were talking about annexing it. That has to scare them a lot more than all the rest.
My guess is they'll take the Chinese money to build up what they can't now, and then kick them out and say thanks very much when they feel they're able. They'll have to fight to do that, and I reckon they know that. I surmise that's what's behind all the news lately about Russia developing superweapons.
Washington DC delenda est.
(Score: 2) by legont on Saturday November 23 2019, @06:32PM (1 child)
I wish you were right - I really do - but it does not look so at least currently. I think a China-Russia union is more likely, which would include most of the former south soviet republics. Russia tried to accommodate West for 25 years and failed. The feeling over there is "enough is enough".
"Wealth is the relentless enemy of understanding" - John Kenneth Galbraith.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday November 24 2019, @06:49PM
It's too bad white people can't stop fighting among ourselves. We need a Aryan Supranational Alliance,