NEWS Waterfront property in the Spratlys? Good investment or not?

[Randy Daytona]

Interesting article on Chinese shipbuilding plans in The Diplomat. What caught my eye was to have 8 LHD’s built or under construction by roughly 2025.

Hints of Chinese Naval Procurement Plans in the 2020s
All military forces have a desired force requirement and a desired “critical mass” to aspire toward. What does the 14th five-year plan tell us about China’s?

Hints of Chinese Naval Procurement Plans in the 2020s

All military forces have a desired force requirement and a desired “critical mass” to aspire toward. What does the 14th five-year plan tell us about China’s?

thediplomat.com

 

[Randy Daytona]

As the previous thread on China got sidetracked and the big thread on the Spratly Islands is in the Warzone and not seen by many (Gatordev - perhaps we should bring the Spratly thread and the big Netflix thread into the main forum?), noticed a few items in the news all related: the Teddy Roosevelt is now in the South China Sea conducting FON (when was the last time a carrier was there?), the Taiwan ambassador was invited to the inauguration and the the new US Trade Representative is Katherine Tai (whose parents immigrated from Taiwan). She replaced perhaps Trump’s best cabinet level pick, Robert Lighthizer. Will be curious to see what course of action President Biden takes in the Pacific.

U.S. carrier group enters South China Sea amid Taiwan tensions

A U.S. aircraft carrier group led by the USS Theodore Roosevelt has entered the South China Sea to promote "freedom of the seas", the U.S. military said on Sunday, at a time when tensions between China and Taiwan have raised concern in Washington.

www.reuters.com

Biden Sends Important Foreign-Policy Signal With Taiwan Inauguration Invite

Taiwan’s de facto ambassador to the U.S. overcame four decades of precedent when she accepted a formal invitation to attend President Joe Biden’s inauguration, calming fears on the self-ruled island that U.S. support would erode in the post-Trump era.

www.wsj.com

 

[Gatordev]

I'm not sure why this thread was in the War Zone. Thread moved and merged with your Taiwan thread. Moving the Netflix thread now, as well.

 

[Hair Warrior]

Taiwan reports second day of incursions by Chinese air force

TAIWAN-CHINA/SECURITY (URGENT):Taiwan reports second day of incursions by Chinese air force

news.trust.org

Two straight days of Chinese fighters and bombers entering Taiwan’s ADIZ. Obviously the ADIZ isn’t their 12nm territorial airspace, but what happens if Taiwan shoots at one/ shoots one down?

 

[Farva01]

the Teddy Roosevelt is now in the South China Sea conducting FON (when was the last time a carrier was there?),

U.S. carrier group enters South China Sea amid Taiwan tensions

A U.S. aircraft carrier group led by the USS Theodore Roosevelt has entered the South China Sea to promote "freedom of the seas", the U.S. military said on Sunday, at a time when tensions between China and Taiwan have raised concern in Washington.

www.reuters.com

Every carrier that shows up in the 7th fleet AOR has operated in the SCS for a while now.

 

[Hair Warrior]

China sharpens language, warns Taiwan that independence 'means war'

China toughened its language towards Taiwan on Thursday, warning after recent stepped up military activities near the island that "independence means war" and that its armed forces were acting in response to provocation and foreign interference.

www.reuters.com

China: independent Taiwan means war.

 

[Randy Daytona]

Happened to catch this today:

IKE Carrier Strike Group Commands SEALs, Marine Missile Teams in First-of-a-Kind, Large-Scale Drill

A Navy carrier strike group got a first glimpse at what future operations could look like, with SEALs providing forward targeting data and Marines on expeditionary bases providing another missile strike option to supplement the strike group’s aircraft- and surface ship-based weapons.

Considering the ranges in the Pacific, perhaps the future V-22 COD might be pushed into other roles?

IKE Carrier Strike Group Commands SEALs, Marine Missile Teams in First-of-a-Kind, Large-Scale Drill - USNI News

A Navy carrier strike group got a first glimpse at what future operations could look like, with SEALs providing forward targeting data and Marines on expeditionary bases providing another missile strike option to supplement the strike group’s aircraft- and surface ship-based weapons. The Dwight...

news.usni.org

 

[Randy Daytona]

Good article from Robert Kaplan on how the competition now with China differs from the Cold War with the Soviet Union.

The One-Sided War of Ideas With China
As Washington ramps up to defend democracy, Beijing is still motivated mostly by geography.
BY ROBERT D. KAPLAN | MARCH 2, 2021

The One-Sided War of Ideas With China

As Washington ramps up to defend democracy, Beijing is still motivated mostly by geography.

foreignpolicy.com

 

[Griz882]

Good article from Robert Kaplan on how the competition now with China differs from the Cold War with the Soviet Union.

The One-Sided War of Ideas With China
As Washington ramps up to defend democracy, Beijing is still motivated mostly by geography.
BY ROBERT D. KAPLAN | MARCH 2, 2021

The One-Sided War of Ideas With China

As Washington ramps up to defend democracy, Beijing is still motivated mostly by geography.

foreignpolicy.com

Good article. In a sense it is very much like Japan’s Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere of ‘39 but with less racist rhetoric. In essence control trade, manage geography, and make the machines hum for the sake of the empire.

 

[Randy Daytona]

Good article. In a sense it is very much like Japan’s Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere of ‘39 but with less racist rhetoric. In essence control trade, manage geography, and make the machines hum for the sake of the empire.

Good analogy. Interesting that this article came out in the SCMP at roughly the same time - looks President Biden and USTR Katherine Tai are going to continue with a hard line on China trade.

US will use ‘all available tools’ to tackle China on trade, make human rights issues a priority

• USTR report indicates hardline approach will continue, saying unfair trade practices harm American workers and businesses

US to use ‘all available tools to take on China’s unfair trade practices’

Office of the US Trade Representative indicates hardline approach will continue, with human rights issues also a top priority.

amp.scmp.com

 

[Hair Warrior]

https://news.yahoo.com/top-us-commander-fears-chinese-214303843.html

TL;DR: CDRUSINDOPACOM tells Senate cmte that China’s threat to Taiwan may “manifest” by 2027.

 

[Brett327]

https://news.yahoo.com/top-us-commander-fears-chinese-214303843.html

TL;DR: CDRUSINDOPACOM tells Senate cmte that China’s threat to Taiwan may “manifest” by 2027.

He has no way of knowing that in any actionable sense, and if he did, he wouldn't be discussing it in an open hearing. This is political theater to keep the resources flowing, which I don't disagree with necessarily, but let's not interpret this as some kind of imminent threat warning.

 

[Hair Warrior]

Open/Closed: United States Indo-Pacific Command | United States Senate Committee on Armed Services

United States Senate Committee on Armed Services

www.armed-services.senate.gov

I skimmed the 40 pg testimony but didn’t see the quote that the journalist attributed to the admiral. It may be in the Q&A portion, or not. Didn’t watch the hearing.

 

[Treetop Flyer]

We all love The Drive:

Mystery Flying Wing Aircraft Photographed Over The Philippines (Updated)

The aircraft resembles the one seen in an image taken in California a year ago that is thought to be of the elusive RQ-180 stealth spy aircraft.

www.thedrive.com

 

[taxi1]

All those stealth features and a hundred mile long contrail