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China's devious move under cover of virus
As outbreaks debilitate the US navy, there are fears China may be using the coronavirus pandemic as cover for asserting control over the South China Sea.
A Vietnamese fishing boat has been rammed and sunk. Military aircraft have landed at its artificial-island fortresses. And large-scale naval exercises has let everyone know China's navy is still pushing the boundaries, hard.
Meanwhile, the USS Theodore Roosevelt aircraft carrier strike group has retreated from the contested waterway in an unscheduled return to Guam – with hundreds of cases of COVID-19 on board.
China's Peoples Liberation Army knows this presents an opportunity.
"The outbreak of COVID-19 has significantly lowered the US Navy's warship deployment capability in the Asia-Pacific region," an article on its official website declares.
The website insists not a single one of its soldiers, sailors or pilots had contracted COVID-19. Instead, the crisis had served to strengthen the combat readiness and resolve of the Chinese military.
That has international affairs analysts worried that even a short-term withdrawal of US and international from the East and South China Seas could give Beijing the opportunity it has been waiting for.
"I think China is exploiting the US Navy's coronavirus challenges to improve its position in the South China Sea by giving the appearance it can and will operate there at will while the US is hamstrung," former Pacific Command Joint Intelligence Centre director Carl Schuster told CNN.
Previously:
(2020-01-09) China Initiates Conflict with Indonesia in the South China Sea
(2019-12-21) Malaysian Top Envoy: China's 'Nine-Dash Line' Claim 'Ridiculous'
(2019-11-22) US Warships Sail in Disputed South China Sea Amid Tensions
(2019-05-14) China Builds New Type 002 Mega Carrier as the Age of Sea Power Wanes
(2018-05-13) China Begins Sea Trials for its First Domestically Developed Aircraft Carrier
(2017-12-24) World's Largest Amphibious Plane in Production Takes Flight in China
(2017-05-25) US Warship Challenges China's Claims in South China Sea
(2017-04-26) China Launches Aircraft Carrier
(2017-03-14) Japan to Send its Biggest Warship to the South China Sea
(2017-01-13) Chinese State Media Boasts About its New Electronic Reconnaissance Ship
(2016-07-14) China's South China Sea Claims Rejected By "Binding" but Unenforceable Tribunal Ruling
(Score: 0, Insightful) by Runaway1956 on Sunday April 12 2020, @09:08PM (40 children)
not that China would take advantage of the situation. No, the aggravating thing is, that we allowed ourselves to fall into the situation. Where did the Navy get covid from? And, WTF were they doing there? They couldn't cancel a liberty call during a pandemic? A ship is a perfect place to quarantine an entire crew, if only the leadership has the will to do so.
Nevermind. This is the same leadership that thinks it important to allow transvestites to serve in the real military.
(Score: -1, Troll) by Ethanol-fueled on Sunday April 12 2020, @09:17PM (12 children)
Yep, and instead of crew safety they're getting monthly lectures about rape culture, White privilege, why hazing is wrong, indoctrination into Islam, and a bunch of other Obama-era bullshit that's still left the military fucked up and constantly running at half-steam.
Actually, if this is a problem for the US military, why isn't it a problem for the Chink military? Chinks are filthy insectoid creatures, at least Americans even on a ship practice some form of hygiene.
(Score: 0, Troll) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday April 12 2020, @09:25PM (7 children)
The Chinese navy gets to summarily toss infected sailors overboard to prevent further contamination. If USN tried that the New York Times would get their panties in a knot about human rights.
(Score: 1, Interesting) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday April 12 2020, @09:40PM (5 children)
I'll bet we could throw the Runaway over board, and the NYT wouldn't care.
(Score: -1, Troll) by Ethanol-fueled on Sunday April 12 2020, @09:49PM (1 child)
Of course they wouldn't. NYT are fifth-columnist Jews giving aid to their buddies the Chinese. That's the dirty little secret, the Jews and Chinese are working together to subvert America. Fifth-columnist Feinstein and her Chinese "chauffeur," Liddle Adam Schitt, Weinstein, Epstein, Wasserman-schulz and the Awan brothers, the Jew coup.
These times present a challenge to America, but they also present an opportunity: to disentangle America's interests from Chinese and Israeli interests. Then send Bill Gates and George Soros to the Hague, like Slobodan. The only difference is that Slobodan was a hero who fought for his people. Bill Gates and Soros are rootless cosmopolitan pieces of shit with no loyalty to anything other than their own psychopathy and god complexes.
(Score: -1, Offtopic) by Anonymous Coward on Monday April 13 2020, @02:30AM
Every time you sit in front of a keyboard, every time you put pen to paper, every time you open your mouth, you show just how stupid you are. I'm sorry you're retarded and the world scares you, but that's not an excuse for willful stupidity. I heard that large amounts of rat poison can cure early-onset dumbness. You should try that.
(Score: 3, Insightful) by barbara hudson on Sunday April 12 2020, @11:20PM
SoylentNews is social media. Says so right in the slogan. Soylentnews is people, not tech.
(Score: 2, Insightful) by Gaaark on Sunday April 12 2020, @11:27PM (1 child)
Throw Trump overboard and see if the world claps!
--- Please remind me if I haven't been civil to you: I'm channeling MDC. ---Gaaark 2.0 ---
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Monday April 13 2020, @02:48AM
If world gets the clap? Huh?
/s
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday April 12 2020, @10:04PM
> The Chinese navy gets to summarily toss infected sailors overboard to prevent further contamination.
> If USN tried that the New York Times would get their panties in a knot about human rights.
I suspect the worker bees chosen to proudly serve their countries by hurling themselves overboard might object too. That's why we ought to send out the National Guard at the same time to suppress over-enthusiastic responses from the proles. Every man must do his duty - and it turns out yours is to die in the ocean so that the boss doesn't look bad.
(Score: 5, Interesting) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday April 12 2020, @10:45PM (2 children)
It's funny how whenever a racist cockraoch makes a post in a forum, all other racist cockroaches feel enbolden to come out of the walls in the open and spew their racist filth all over the floor.
(Score: -1, Troll) by Anonymous Coward on Monday April 13 2020, @08:48AM
And whenever a racist posts, a Communist replies. Having to choose between the two, I'll be a racist every fucking te, as will my multiracial racist children. Fuck niggers, fuck Jews, hang Commies.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Monday April 13 2020, @09:02PM
"racism" is anti-white, jewish communist propaganda since it was first spewed. There is nothing wrong with trying to maintain your people's existence or further it's development. Killing millions of whites and having the civilian women and children raped by soldiers during ww2 was not enough for these Jews. Now they seek to destroy what is left of whites in the countries they founded.
(Score: -1, Redundant) by Anonymous Coward on Monday April 13 2020, @01:58AM
Hopefully stupid people like you are too dumb to heed public health directives.
(Score: 2, Insightful) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday April 12 2020, @09:41PM (8 children)
Are you suggesting that telling the commanders out in the fleet to not do or say anything about COVID-19 because it would embarrass the POTUS was actually a bad idea?
Hmm. Go figure.
(Score: 2) by Runaway1956 on Monday April 13 2020, @04:42AM (6 children)
I said no such thing. I suggested that the fleet should have been quarantined to protect the crews from any infection. That quarantine was very easily accomplished, back in January. It's far, far too late in March. So, I'm saying that the medical corps were idiots if they didn't suggest a quarantine to the Chief of Naval Operations, and if they did, then the CNO is an idiot for not taking the advice.
(Score: 1, Funny) by Anonymous Coward on Monday April 13 2020, @05:58AM (1 child)
Bbbut China virus! China's fault.
(Score: 2) by Runaway1956 on Monday April 13 2020, @07:59AM
It's not the Zimbabwe Virus, is it?
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Monday April 13 2020, @01:09PM (3 children)
If only the Commander in Chief were competent, we could have avoided this.
But that would require taking action based on, "a democratic party hoax!"
(Score: 2) by Runaway1956 on Monday April 13 2020, @01:18PM (2 children)
Blame the American voter for that. The last competent CinC was either Eisenhower, or Kennedy. Of those two, Ike was the more competent.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Monday April 13 2020, @03:13PM (1 child)
You are just incapable of criticizing Trump. You do realize every sane person around here knows that "TDS" actually refers to people like you?
(Score: 2) by Runaway1956 on Monday April 13 2020, @04:20PM
Well, you're entitled to your asinine opinion. I'm also aware that the mayors of major cities were busily telling their constituents to go out, mingle, have fun, ride the subway, don't pay any mind to this Corona Virus as late as March. So - - - the president of the US was roughly equally culpable as the Dems? Are you as ready to castigate the mayor of NYC, as you are willing to denigrate Trump?
You'll notice, I'm not singing Trump's praises here. I'm making cold comparisons between one office holder, and another. They all suck ass. But, again, selling off stockpiled supplies didn't start with either Trump, or any of those current mayors. It started about fifteen years ago. Which asshole was president then?
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Monday April 13 2020, @12:54PM
Definitely don't say anything. Quarantine up. We're not going to win anymore wars because of people like you. Everyone knows the carrier is down.
The chinese definitely have infections in their military, they're just clammed up about it. Plus they have enough personell to ignore the attrition.
(Score: 2, Insightful) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday April 12 2020, @10:51PM (9 children)
Why would you have a problem with "transvestites" serving in the military ? Is "transvestit-ism" negatively correlated with intelligence, discipline, stamina, competence, loyalty, or patriotism ?
And if you believe so, where is your proof ? Where is your evidence ? Where are your studies ?
(Score: 3, Funny) by Gaaark on Sunday April 12 2020, @11:32PM (3 children)
WHAT? You want COMPETENT military personnel????
What you talkin' about Willis?
--- Please remind me if I haven't been civil to you: I'm channeling MDC. ---Gaaark 2.0 ---
(Score: 2) by RS3 on Monday April 13 2020, @02:53AM (2 children)
Not sure which way you're going (sarcasm or not?) but there's this: https://www.globalresearch.ca/us-court-ruled-you-can-be-too-smart-to-be-a-cop/5420630 [globalresearch.ca] which could easily be similarly applied to military personnel by someone... (not me- I'm just remembering a correlation).
(Score: 4, Informative) by Runaway1956 on Monday April 13 2020, @08:14AM (1 child)
Actually, the military puts a premium on intelligence. There are a number of specialties that require high intelligence. Those specialties have rapid promotion schedules, and high enlistment and reenlistment bonuses. The term "push button" was coined for those ratings in the Navy. Supposedly all you have to do is push a few buttons to get a promotion. There are situations in which senior petty officers with ten or more years service are answering to Chief petty officers with less than two years service. Complete "A" school, and BAM, you're a chief.
For a long time, the Marine Corp shopped for high intelligence. I suppose they still do, but I haven't seen the recruiting posters and advertisements recently. A minimal intelligence is necessary to keep tactical dynamics straight in your head. A somewhat higher intelligence is needed to grasp strategy and tactics, and fit it all together.
I'm less aware of the Army's valuation of intelligence, but I can't imagine that they want dullards in their ranks.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Monday April 13 2020, @09:58AM
It all depends. Artilleryman? Pilot? Anybody giving orders? Those jobs require intelligence. The poor SOB handed a rifle and told to go over the wall? He only needs to know which end goes 'bang' and be able to follow orders.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Monday April 13 2020, @01:09AM (2 children)
Here [nih.gov] they [atria.nl] are [nih.gov]
(Score: 1, Insightful) by Anonymous Coward on Monday April 13 2020, @03:11AM (1 child)
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Monday April 13 2020, @02:21PM
Homosexuality is illegal in Iran, the first paper would indicate over NPD is 50x more prevalent in the LGBT community. The second paper from a transgender journal would support the findings of the first. The third paper is one of many finding a correlation between poor mental health outcomes and parental abuse. [nih.gov]
They show what is expected and observed, [politico.com] that the prevalence of personality disorders is significantly higher in individuals identifying as transgender.
(Score: 1, Troll) by Runaway1956 on Monday April 13 2020, @04:29AM
Trannies, like everyone else, know that becoming a member of the US military entitles them to certain levels of healthcare. Trannies regard their very expensive transiting treatments as healthcare. In their eyes, it becomes the military's responsibility to turn them into the opposite gender. In reality, they have a preexisting condition which should disqualify them from serving. If a heart murmur is sufficient to prevent a person from serving, then being the wrong gender should also disqualify.
The constitution makes reference to "common defense" as a reason to have a military. There is no reference to "common gender" or whatever the hell.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Monday April 13 2020, @01:13PM
Sure maybe some of those things... but also emotional instability. You're telling me someone who goes through with invasive surgeries in the name of cosmetics is a prime candidate to be bossed around and made to put up with discomfort? They'll crack.
Most people wish they were a golden god or supermodel but it's not high enough on their list to even work out a few times a week.
The military doesn't have time for that, or the money to pay for surgery, all for 1% of candidates who are affected.
(Score: 3, Insightful) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday April 12 2020, @11:02PM (7 children)
(Score: 2, Flamebait) by PartTimeZombie on Sunday April 12 2020, @11:50PM
Trans people are different to me, and different is scary. I don't like being scared.
Besides, Alex Jones said they're bad, and he wouldn't lie would he?
(Score: 2, Flamebait) by Runaway1956 on Monday April 13 2020, @04:29AM (5 children)
Trannies, like everyone else, know that becoming a member of the US military entitles them to certain levels of healthcare. Trannies regard their very expensive transiting treatments as healthcare. In their eyes, it becomes the military's responsibility to turn them into the opposite gender. In reality, they have a preexisting condition which should disqualify them from serving. If a heart murmur is sufficient to prevent a person from serving, then being the wrong gender should also disqualify.
The constitution makes reference to "common defense" as a reason to have a military. There is no reference to "common gender" or whatever the hell.
(Score: 3, Insightful) by Anonymous Coward on Monday April 13 2020, @04:55AM (3 children)
If the only way to obtain affordable healthcare is to work for a government department, that seems to suggest more about the appalling disparity of US healthcare than being trans.
And yet if Bernie proclaims universal affordable healthcare as a basic human right as enjoyed in western countries such as the Nordics, he's branded a loony red. Go figure.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Monday April 13 2020, @01:19PM
I want to be pretty, the taxpayers should cover it. Go bernie go! Cover my elective cosmetic procedure at the taxpayer's expense. Not having people fawning over me is bad for my emotional health. I don't even feel my body is my own, I'm beautiful in my mind: Who is this ugly person staring back from the mirror. Boob job, nose job, lipo, face lift! Stat!
(Score: 1, Insightful) by Anonymous Coward on Monday April 13 2020, @01:22PM
Removing your balls so that you can better pretend to be female is not a health care issue - it's a psychiatric issue.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday April 16 2020, @09:43PM
And if so, why then are the white-right so against universal healthcare for all their aryan brethren?
Could it be they just see other whites as 'white niggers' to be dealt with when the black and brown, slanty eyed, and sand niggers are all taken care of? Will you be the first when they find out you have Irish blood?
Americans are only happy when they are stupid, and that is a lot of the time. Which makes it easy for the less stupid among them to take advantage.
(Score: 1, Informative) by Anonymous Coward on Monday April 13 2020, @01:52PM
You know, not all trans people actually want or need to have sex reassignment surgery. And just because some of them feel that it's the military's responsibility to cover sex reassignment doesn't mean that military healthcare should cover it. A straight man with an ugly nose might similarly feel that it's the military's responsibility to cover his rhinoplasty for his psychological well being, but that doesn't mean that military healthcare should cover it. So they should all have such elective surgery done on their own dime by saving up for it same as if they worked for the private sector.