CNN says US destroyer to sail in SCS. I say it's pointless.

[Martian2]

Who's winning in the South China Sea? The answer is obviously China.

CNN reports a US destroyer will sail in the South China Sea within 12 miles of a Chinese island.

Link: U.S. destroyer to pass islands in South China Sea within 24 hours - CNNPolitics.com

After the media coverage, China goes back to building more South China Sea islands and militarizing them.

The US action is temporary.

The Chinese action is permanent.

 

[Dungeness]

Who's winning in the South China Sea? The answer is obviously China.

CNN reports a US destroyer will sail in the South China Sea within 12 miles of a Chinese island.

Link: U.S. destroyer to pass islands in South China Sea within 24 hours - CNNPolitics.com

After the media coverage, China goes back to building more South China Sea islands and militarizing them.

The US action is temporary.

The Chinese action is permanent.

I think China may use this newest provocation as an excuse to back away from the earlier stand that China would not militarize the islands, and announce the pan for a full blown militarization of those islands.

 

[Martian2]

Contrast China's South China Sea (SCS) Military Strategy with US Political Response

China's strategy in the South China Sea is inherently military in nature. To blunt US naval power, China is building multiple artificial islands with advanced sensors, missiles, and jet fighters.

In response, the US will conduct a political show and sail a destroyer within 12 miles of a Chinese island.

China's long-term strategy is the winning one. China will build more artificial islands. These islands serve as the hub for China's Type 022 Houbei-class missile boats. The operational range of China's Type 056 light frigate/corvette is also greatly extended.

The Chinese artificial islands serve as a convenient base for resupply of missiles for the Chinese surface warships.

The Chinese artificial islands provide air cover through emplaced HQ-9 SAMs and jet fighters.

Finally, the Chinese artificial islands are important resupply depots for Chinese Type 041 Yuan-class submarines with AIP. The Yuan SSKs can fire their anti-ship missiles (and torpedoes) and resupply at a well-defended island.

In conclusion, China is gaining a strong military advantage in the South China Sea. The US political response of sailing a destroyer near a Chinese island will not lessen China's increasing military power in the South China Sea.

 

[21stCentury]

Some people think China is building these islands for fun. Well, the fun is only beginning! China's presence in SCS is here to stay, it is a permanent tenure. Unless someone is stupid enough to actually attack the islands, I really don't see China's policy changing at all. In fact, by trying to provoke China there will only give China more reason the accelerate a full blown militarization of the islands. I mean, militarization of the artificial islands IS the plan, it's only a matter of time. Aside from the spiritual victory of sailing close to the island to 'make a point' and 'teach China a lesson' I don't see how this could hamper the development.... Lol

 

[gambit]

Who's winning in the South China Sea? The answer is obviously China.

CNN reports a US destroyer will sail in the South China Sea within 12 miles of a Chinese island.

Link: U.S. destroyer to pass islands in South China Sea within 24 hours - CNNPolitics.com

After the media coverage, China goes back to building more South China Sea islands and militarizing them.

The US action is temporary.

The Chinese action is permanent.

US presence in the SCS to ensure freedom of navigation have been around longer than modern China have been in the same area. A policeman's action maybe a singular event, but his presence can be just as permanent as the crook's.

 

[AugenBlick]

let us see what the chinese govt. does as US will make this a frequent activity.

Let's see some Chinese Exceptional-ism.

 

[70U63]

US can send their war ship there to please someone (either their own countrymen or their puppies in the region).
China simply ignore them and do what they have to do.

And someone still want to use freedom of navigation bs as an excuse.
Just like killing so many people (direct and indirectly) in certain places around the world because democrazy is good and worth doing it.

 

[Dungeness]

China has not openly declared 12 nautical miles territory waters surrounding those islands, and the US could just restate its standing policy of No Recognition, and maintain the strategic ambiguity. Now the game will be totally different. If the US sails into 12 miles unchallenged, though it is more like a psychological victory for the US, it gives China an excuse to fully militarize those islands; if the US is confronted by the Chinese Navy, it just turns the whole "12 miles" topic into an open issue that itself gives China an advantage. Either way, China stands to gain.

US is acting like a school bully now to pick on the new boy. It seems the US is just trying to pick up some face from Chinese it lost to Russian in Syria. No very wise.

 

[gambit]

US can send their war ship there to please someone (either their own countrymen or their puppies in the region).
China simply ignore them and do what they have to do.

And someone still want to use freedom of navigation bs as an excuse.
Just like killing so many people (direct and indirectly) in certain places around the world because democrazy is good and worth doing it.

Kinda like someone using some ancient maps BS that no one recognizes anymore as an excuse ?

 

[Economic superpower]

China will continue to build on the islands and militarise them.

US is utterly powerless and helpless to stop that from happening.

China will build more coast guard ships and naval ships and deploy them to patrol the SCS to make sure China has ABSOLUTE control of the SCS.

US patrols won't make a difference to China's long term plans.

Kinda like someone using some ancient maps BS that no one recognizes anymore as an excuse ?

China recognises those maps and is acting on them. That's what matters.

China has not openly declared 12 nautical miles territory waters surrounding those islands, and the US could just restate its standing policy of No Recognition, and maintain the strategic ambiguity. Now the game will be totally different. If the US sails into 12 miles unchallenged, though it is more like a psychological victory for the US, it gives China an excuse to fully militarize those islands; if the US is confronted by the Chinese Navy, it just turns the whole "12 miles" topic into an open issue that itself gives China an advantage. Either way, China stands to gain.

US is acting like a school bully now to pick on the new boy. It seems the US is just trying to pick up some face from Chinese it lost to Russian in Syria. No very wise.

More and more countries are no longer afraid to challenge American power. Everyone sees the rapid and terminal decline of America and their aura of invincibility is being shredded to pieces.
As the years go by, more countries will lose respect for the US and ignore the US and just do whatever they want.

 

[Aepsilons]

Kinda like someone using some ancient maps BS that no one recognizes anymore as an excuse ?

 

[Martian2]

Prior to US Policy of "Pivot to Asia," China had zero acre in the South China Sea.

As a military enthusiast, I don't care whether the US sails a ship near a Chinese island.

I only care about the hard power on the ground.

Prior to the provocative US "Pivot to Asia," China had not reclaimed a single island.

After the Philippines and Vietnam started harassing Chinese fishermen (and in conjunction with US displays of military naval power near Chinese islands), China forcefully responded with 3,000 acres of artificial islands in the South China Sea.

In my view, the US Pivot to Asia has been a complete and utter failure.

Prior to 2011's Pivot to Asia, the US held the upper hand in any military conflict in the South China Sea. Each carrier is four acres. Ten carriers give the US 40 acres of military power. Usually a few carriers are in dock for maintenance, but we're only looking at ballpark figures.

With the US trumpeting its Pivot to Asia policy, China created 3,000 acres of artificial islands in the South China Sea.

Now, in any military conflict in the South China Sea, China holds the upper hand. China can bring 3,000 acres of military weapons to bear.

If the US keeps getting in China's face, the total number of islands and acres will keep going up. This means the US is losing military power in the South China Sea at an accelerated rate.

The point is that a lot of dumb people are running the US government. If they had left things alone, the US would have kept a stronger hand in the South China Sea. That is no longer the case.

Summary:

Pre-Pivot to Asia
US: 40 acres of military equipment in the South China Sea
China: 0 acres

Post-Pivot to Asia
US: 40 acres of military equipment
China: 3,000 acres
----------

Pacom Chief: China’s Land Reclamation Has Broad Consequences > U.S. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE > Article View

 

[TaiShang]

Who's winning in the South China Sea? The answer is obviously China.

CNN reports a US destroyer will sail in the South China Sea within 12 miles of a Chinese island.

Link: U.S. destroyer to pass islands in South China Sea within 24 hours - CNNPolitics.com

After the media coverage, China goes back to building more South China Sea islands and militarizing them.

The US action is temporary.

The Chinese action is permanent.

Under Obama, US seems to have lost lots of capabilities, one of them being the ability to tell between strategy and tactic.

That's probably a better indicator for China than some ships sailing over near the islands that China has been keeping to build up at full speed.

Will the sailing ship be able to stop the construction efforts?

 

[Dungeness]

Under Obama, US seems to have lost lots of capabilities, one of them being the ability to tell between strategy and tactic.

That's probably a better indicator for China than some ships sailing over near the islands that China has been keeping to build up at full speed.

Is the sailing ship be able to stop the construction efforts?

US believes it is important to "Make A Statement". That is all there is.

The most interesting thing is US shows up now instead of 18 months ago, when China's island building effort was just started. It looks almost like there is some kind of concession made between two sides under the table.

 

[gambit]

China recognises those maps and is acting on them. That's what matters.

The US and the rest of the world recognizes the need for freedom of navigation in the SCS. That is what matters more. In the end, no matter how many 'islands' China build, the US and allies will be there to ensure China will remain on those islands and unable to molest honest shipping.