NEWS Bumper Boats in the SCS

[Flash]

A Chinese Coast Guard ship apparently rammed a Chinese fishing vessel that had been seized by the Indonesians as it was being towed back to an Indonesian island in the southwest corner of the SCS. The Indonesians cut the vessel loose but kept the crew. Most notably, the incident happened at or within the 12 mile territorial limit of Indonesian waters.

 

[Skywalker]

Why the sudden spike in Chinese maritime aggression, anyways? I know they've always been quick to give the Japanese grief, but it seems like they're in the headlines more and more these days regarding their interaction with all of their neighbors, sans Russia.

 

[Flash]

I think it is several factors, most notably Xi Jinping is a lot more assertive than previous leaders and has a a more capable navy and coast guard to back up Chinese claims.

 

[DesertRooster]

I think it is several factors, most notably Xi Jinping is a lot more assertive than previous leaders and has a a more capable navy and coast guard to back up Chinese claims.

But even their commercial fishing vessels are getting themselves in trouble.
http://www.cnn.com/2016/03/15/americas/argentina-chinese-fishing-vessel/
It just seems like they are trying to push borders to the fullest extent, even if it seems agressive to the international community.

 

[IKE]

I am totally naïve when it comes to world politics. But a common negotiation tactic is to claim more than you are willing to settle for. It would be easy for the Chinese to blame the latest two excursions on private fishermen, and then publicly say they will rein them in and stay within the ridiculous EEZ they claim over the Spratlys area.

 

[Flash]

The Indonesians have seized another Chinese fishing vessel in the same area, apparently firing warning shots and wounding a Chinese fisherman.

 

[DesertRooster]

The Indonesians have seized another Chinese fishing vessel in the same area, apparently firing warning shots and wounding a Chinese fisherman.

Apparently they don't mess around with the warning shots.

 

[AllYourBass]

Apparently they don't mess around with the warning shots.

 

[Flash]

Chinese claims in the South China Sea have been rejected by the International Tribunal in The Hague. It'll be interesting to see what the Chinese reaction will be.

 

[jollygreen07]

Chinese claims in the South China Sea have been rejected by the International Tribunal in The Hague. It'll be interesting to see what the Chinese reaction will be.

I'd really like to see one of those DDGs pull into that harbor at the Firey Cross installation unannounced, drop anchor, and have a steel beach picnic. Those reefs are in international waters and should be treated as such. To do any less only legitimizes the Chinese claim to the area.

 

[Uncle Fester]

I'd really like to see one of those DDGs pull into that harbor at the Firey Cross installation unannounced, drop anchor, and have a steel beach picnic. Those reefs are in international waters and should be treated as such. To do any less only legitimizes the Chinese claim to the area.

Thus the FON OPS we've been conducting. We sail through those seas to demonstrate we don't recognize the sovereignty claims, and the Chinese protest to demonstrate that they haven't given the claims up. It's not just chest-beating - under maritime law, one way to legitimize sovereignty over an area you claim is to show that historically other nations ask your permission to sail through/fly over it, as Quaddafi tried to claim the Gulf of Sidra as a "historic bay" back in the '80's.

I don't think the Chinese will try pushing us deliberately. They have too much to lose and they're not in a position right now to start a war. Where it'll get interesting is when the Chinese start bumping smaller countries, especially the Vietnamese and Filipinos, in an effort to force compliance and rebuff their claims. If the Chinese do nothing, they're implicitly acknowledging the PCA's ruling. If they aggressively push other countries around, they invite an international response they don't particularly want.

 

[jollygreen07]

Thus the FON OPS we've been conducting. We sail through those seas to demonstrate we don't recognize the sovereignty claims, and the Chinese protest to demonstrate that they haven't given the claims up. It's not just chest-beating - under maritime law, one way to legitimize sovereignty over an area you claim is to show that historically other nations ask your permission to sail through/fly over it, as Quaddafi tried to claim the Gulf of Sidra as a "historic bay" back in the '80's.

I don't think the Chinese will try pushing us deliberately. They have too much to lose and they're not in a position right now to start a war. Where it'll get interesting is when the Chinese start bumping smaller countries, especially the Vietnamese and Filipinos, in an effort to force compliance and rebuff their claims. If the Chinese do nothing, they're implicitly acknowledging the PCA's ruling. If they aggressively push other countries around, they invite an international response they don't particularly want.

True. I was referring to the distance the DDGs were keeping from the islands themselves, not the SCS as a whole. Good points, though.

 

[HH-60H]

I'd really like to see one of those DDGs pull into that harbor at the Firey Cross installation unannounced, drop anchor, and have a steel beach picnic. Those reefs are in international waters and should be treated as such. To do any less only legitimizes the Chinese claim to the area.

So it can run hard aground and cause a real problem?

 

[Flash]

True. I was referring to the distance the DDGs were keeping from the islands themselves, not the SCS as a whole. Good points, though.

As long as they go within 12 miles it sends the message. I would prefer it not be portrayed as 'innocent passage' as the administration claimed one was, which is allowable in territorial waters, and it just be a plain FON op.

 

[ea6bflyr]

So it can run hard aground and cause a real problem?

I think we know what happens when you run aground on a reef.