Us Aircraft Carrier In The South China Sea

[Okieboy]

HO CHI MINH CITY, Vietnam — America sent a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier on a cruise through the South China Sea on Saturday, projecting its power in waters that are fast becoming a focal point of its strategic rivalry with Beijing.

The USS George Washington's mission could raise hackles in China, which is locked in disputes with Vietnam, the Philippines and other governments over ownership of islands in the region.

It will likely reassure the jittery smaller nations of Washington's support in their tussles with China, whose growing economic and military might is leading to a greater assertiveness in pressing its claims in the South China Sea. The United States is building closer economic and military alliances with Vietnam and other nations in the region as part of a "pivot" away from the Middle East to Asia.

China is also locked in an unexpectedly fierce dispute with American ally Japan over the ownership of islands in the nearby East China Sea. On Friday, Beijing staged military exercises near the islands to demonstrate its ability to enforce its claims.

China claims nearly all of the South China Sea, where the U.S. says it has a national interest in ensuring freedom of navigation in an area crossed by vital shipping lanes. Vietnam, the Philippines and several other Asian nations also claim parts of the sea.

The U.S. Navy regularly patrols the Asia-Pacific region, and the trip by the George Washington off the coast of Vietnam is its second in two years.

A second aircraft carrier, the USS John C. Stennis, is also conducting operations in the western Pacific region, according to the U.S. Pacific Fleet.

"China will take this as another expression by the United States of its desire to maintain regional domination," said Denny Roy, a senior fellow at the East-West Center in Hawaii. "The U.S also wants to send a message to the region that it is here for the long haul .... and that it wants to back up international law."

Vietnam is pleased to accept help from its one-time foe America as a hedge against its giant neighbor China. It has reacted angrily to recent moves by Beijing to establish a garrison on one of the Paracel islands, which Vietnam also claims. The United States also criticized the move by Beijing.

"Vietnam requests China to respect the sovereignty of Vietnam and refrain from taking any other similar wrongdoings," the Foreign Ministry said this month.

While most analysts believe military confrontation in the waters is highly unlikely, they say tensions are likely to increase as China continues pressing its claims and building its navy. (AP)

[Jake]

America sent a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier on a cruise through the South China Sea on Saturday, projecting its power in waters that are fast becoming a focal point of its strategic rivalry with Beijing......The USS George Washington's mission could raise hackles in China......A second aircraft carrier, the USS John C. Stennis, is also conducting operations in the western Pacific region, according to the U.S. Pacific Fleet.

As you may know, both carrier battle groups (George Washington and Stennis) will come in with all guns to bear.

Their air and surface escorts can easily provide offensive and defensive weapons projecting thousands of miles

away. We even have 7/24 reconnaissance using our constellation of military satellites.

One thing that is seldom mentioned is our silent killers -- our submarines riding shotgun for those battle groups.

And all this, for what now -- Spratly island groups and other rich fishing spots?? It's all about real estate again or

the potential natural resources that have yet to be discovered. If the chit hits the fan, the whole Far East region

will be declared a dead zone. Perhaps the RAN (Royal Australian Navy) will eventually save our a$$. And Wal-

Mart will start restocking their shelves again of made in China products.

Man is so stupid!

[oldutot]

My son is with the John Stennis group. On the Mobile Bay

[Jake]

My son is with the John Stennis group. On the Mobile Bay

Oldutot's son Patrick is on his journey of a lifetime. Being on a warship steaming into Injun country

does have it's moments. A warship like USS Mobile Bay is usually riding point about 200 miles away

from the battle group. A missile cruiser being point man, will always have a CAP (combat air patrol)

consisting of F-18 Hornets riding shotgun for the missile cruiser. And you would normally find a senior

flag officer using the Ticonderoga class as their command ship.

I would consider all types of missile cruisers like a Mercedes, while the destroyers and frigates are

driven like a Porsche. Check out the sexy lines of USS Mobile Bay:

I am very proud of your son Oldutot!

[Beachboy]

My reading suggests that China's posturing as a lot to do with up coming change in power, which happens ever 10 years. Hopefully when that's finished, all of this will settle down.

From a rational point of view, all of this is absolute madness. China's wealth depends on world trade. Japan is one of it's biggest investors. The US is it's biggest consumer. The economic value of this area to China is really a drop in the bucket. It makes absolutely no sense to threaten the countries that support it's economy. It makes as much sense as the US threatening the UK over control of the British Virgin Islands. China has followed a "let's agree to disagree" policy with Taiwan for years and it could easily do the same here.

The real danger is someone could lose their cool. Things could get out of hand really quickly. The sad part is that the Philippines feels it has to spend money on it's military -- fighter jets from Korea and missile destroyers from Italy. That's insane.

There's been a lot of scare-mongering written about the Chinese Navy recently. The Diplomat has a good analysis: http://thediplomat.com/2012/08/30/chinas-not-so-scary-navy/

[Will]

And its election time in the U.S...... what a coincidence! :unsure:

[Jack Peterson]

YUP! the Middle East, is now a mess again, Afghanistan will never be right. Lets go interfere somewhere else! We are bored.

:tiphat:

[Dave Hounddriver]

YUP! the Middle East, is now a mess again, Afghanistan will never be right. Lets go interfere somewhere else! We are bored.

Like Jake said, it is an honor to have those US men and equipment in the area helping the US with its commitments to all its allies, which includes Canada and Philippines as well as others in the area.

I would be among the first to condemn any government that came in with guns blazing but that is not what I see. I don't see another Iraq yet and we hope there is nothing like that coming over the horizon.

[oldutot]

My son is with the John Stennis group. On the Mobile Bay

Oldutot's son Patrick is on his journey of a lifetime. Being on a warship steaming into Injun country

does have it's moments. A warship like USS Mobile Bay is usually riding point about 200 miles away

from the battle group. A missile cruiser being point man, will always have a CAP (combat air patrol)

consisting of F-18 Hornets riding shotgun for the missile cruiser. And you would normally find a senior

flag officer using the Ticonderoga class as their command ship.

I would consider all types of missile cruisers like a Mercedes, while the destroyers and frigates are

driven like a Porsche. Check out the sexy lines of USS Mobile Bay:

I am very proud of your son Oldutot!

Thanks for the Post bro, I am proud of my boy

[Jack Peterson]

I would be among the first to condemn any government that came in with guns blazing but that is not what I see. I don't see another Iraq yet

No Dave not yet! and lets just hope recent History does not repeat it'self. This is to me is where it starts, politicians using Good men and Equipment as if they are toys. we have all seen it before, not enough is known of the other side, as you say, No threat yet, strange things can happen