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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: 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.