Chinese Ships Harassed Unarmed Navy Craft

WASHINGTON -- Chinese ships surrounded and harassed a Navy mapping ship in international waters off China, at one point coming within 25 feet of the American boat and strewing debris in its path, the Defense Department said Monday. The Obama administration said it would continue naval operations in the South China Sea, most of which China considers its territory, and protested to China about what it called reckless behavior that endangered lives.

National Intelligence Director Dennis Blair told Congress Tuesday that China's alleged harassment of an unarmed U.S. Navy craft is the "most serious" he's seen in eight years.
The top intelligence official said China appears to have adopted a more aggressive military stance recently.

LACOP wrote:Chairman Maobama knows where Red China is. Being a confirmed Maoist he's got an autographed copy of the little red book.

namvet wrote:

im not so sure. if its not on his tele-prompter he's lost

Obama Rulz wrote:Why did we have ships near China? It seems like a diplomatic nightmare. Someone needs to keep a better eye on what the military is doing.

NonConformist wrote:

Obama Rulz wrote:Why did we have ships near China? It seems like a diplomatic nightmare. Someone needs to keep a better eye on what the military is doing.

Because we're protecting Taiwan from Chinese Aggression and Imperialism

NonConformist wrote:

Obama Rulz wrote:Why did we have ships near China? It seems like a diplomatic nightmare. Someone needs to keep a better eye on what the military is doing.

Because we're protecting Taiwan from Chinese Aggression and Imperialism

Obama Rulz wrote:

NonConformist wrote:

Obama Rulz wrote:Why did we have ships near China? It seems like a diplomatic nightmare. Someone needs to keep a better eye on what the military is doing.

Because we're protecting Taiwan from Chinese Aggression and Imperialism

Why can't Taiwan protect itself? Why should we be the protectors of the universe? We can't afford that. We have people in America losing their jobs, houses, healthcare and worse. We need to take care of our own.

Obama Rulz wrote:Why can't Taiwan protect itself? Why should we be the protectors of the universe? We can't afford that. We have people in America losing their jobs, houses, healthcare and worse. We need to take care of our own.

namvet wrote:all incoming presidents give the military a shoot or no shoot policy. which is it Osama???? this was in international waters. its nothing new. Russian trawlers did the same to us in Nam



that is a tempting target.

Clubtender wrote:

namvet wrote:all incoming presidents give the military a shoot or no shoot policy. which is it Osama???? this was in international waters. its nothing new. Russian trawlers did the same to us in Nam



that is a tempting target.

A "general quarters" klaxon sounding and 5" gun pointed at that ship's bridge may have helped those Chinese captains to remember that it is illegal to harass any nation's ship in international waters.

Still, it is our own fault. Any US Navy ship of that size traveling anywhere other than in US waters should have both surface to surface and surface to air defense capabilities. If it doesn't, it should be escorted by a ship that does.

Edwin D Gill wrote:Why is any US Navy ship unarmed? That does not make make sense to me.

Edwin D Gill wrote:Why is any US Navy ship unarmed? That does not make make sense to me.

Remo wrote:

Edwin D Gill wrote:Why is any US Navy ship unarmed? That does not make make sense to me.

No, it doesn't. Kind of like sending a platoon of Marines out on a patrol with only canteens and signal mirrors.

NonConformist wrote:
Like the Marines in Beirut who were at guard w/ empty rifles?

A potential conflict was brewing last night in the South China Sea after President Obama dispatched heavily armed American destroyers to the scene of a naval standoff between the US and China at the weekend.

Mr Obama’s decision to send an armed escort for US surveillance ships in the area follows the aggressive and co-ordinated manoeuvres of five Chinese boats on Sunday. They harassed and nearly collided with an unarmed American vessel.

Washington accused the Chinese ships of moving directly in front of the US Navy surveillance ship Impeccable, forcing its crew to take emergency action, and to deploy a high-pressure water hose to deter the Chinese ships. Formal protests were lodged with Beijing after the incident.

On a day that Mr Obama and his senior officials met the Chinese Foreign Minister, Yang Jiechi, in Washington, Beijing showed no sign of backing down. Its military chiefs accused the unarmed US Navy ship of being on a spying mission.

The US keeps a close eye on China’s arsenal, including its expanding fleet of submarines in the area. Washington says that the confrontation occurred in international waters, but Beijing claims nearly all the South China Sea as its own, putting it in conflict with five other nations that have claims over different parts of the waters.

The episode complicated fragile military relations between the US and China, which appeared to have improved after the two held defence talks in Beijing last month.

Mr Obama yesterday urged more military dialogue with China to avoid similar incidents after talks with Mr Yang, the White House said. “The President also stressed the importance of raising the level and frequency of military-to-military dialogue,” it said.

A hotline was established between the Chinese Defence Ministry and the Pentagon in April last year, but it was not used during or after Sunday’s standoff, defence officials said. The US Government immediately protested to Chinese authorities after the incident, about 75 miles south of Hainan Island.

Beijing has rejected the US account and demanded that the United States cease what it calls illegal activities in the South China Sea. The Chinese maintain the area is part of the country’s exclusive economic zone.

Washington insists that the area is part of international waters and that US ships have a legal right to operate there.

Obama Rulz wrote:I remember how Bush folded to the Chinese when they took one of our airplanes.