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Tensions rise in troubled China Seas
http://worldnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/08/24/13432841-much-at-stake-for-us-as-tensions-rise-in-troubled-china-seas?lite
"Vast oil reserves, trillion-dollar trade routes, fervent nationalist sentiments, competing territorial claims and bitter histories – the waters off the east coast of China are a sea of money and a sea of trouble........
The South China Sea has a myriad of competing claims of ownership: China staked out most of it in 1947 but its neighbors have never accepted it. The Spratly Islands alone are claimed by a total of five countries: China, Taiwan, Malaysia, Philippines and Vietnam..All are eyeing oil and gas reserves thought to be so rich that the area has become dubbed "The Second Persian Gulf." Also, an estimated $5 trillion worth of trade is shipped through its waters.
In a speech last month in Cambodia, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton told members of the Asean group of nations – which includes the Philippines, Vietnam and Malaysia – that "maritime security" was one of a number of issues in the region of "central importance" to the U.S., and spoke of "transnational threats" as one area of U.S. government focus.
But perhaps the most dangerous potential flashpoint is farther north in the East China Sea. China and Japan both claim ownership of the uninhabited Senkaku Islands – known as Diaoyu in Chinese – with strong nationalist feelings on both sides........Bonnie Glaser, a senior fellow at the Center for International & Strategic Studies and a consultant to the U.S. government on East Asia, said if China decides to seize the Senkakus – currently administered by Japan – it would likely provoke a military confrontation.
"The U.S. has an interest in trying to ensure that China does not intimidate its neighbors, that it does not use military force or other means to compel its neighbors to accept outcomes that are against their interest," she said.
"Clearly if nations like the Philippines lose confidence in the U.S. ability to serve as the principal regional guarantor, they may embark on a potentially destabilizing arms build-up or accede to the demands of China. Neither would be in the interests of the U.S.," she said.
"We do not want to set up a situation where the Chinese believe the Asia-Pacific is their backyard," she added."
...............................................
The above is from this nbcnews.com
The following is from one of Andrew Bacevich's (retired Army Col and current professor of military history) books.
From the book 'Washington Rules: America's Path To Permanent War'
"For the last half century, as President's have come and gone, the basic edifice of U.S. national security policy has remained unchanged: a worldwide military presence: armed forces configured not for defense but for global power projection: and a penchant for interventionism, whether overt or covert, anywhere at any time. From the age of Harrry Truman to the era of Barack Obama, this triad of principles has remained sacrosanct."
"Vast oil reserves, trillion-dollar trade routes, fervent nationalist sentiments, competing territorial claims and bitter histories – the waters off the east coast of China are a sea of money and a sea of trouble........
The South China Sea has a myriad of competing claims of ownership: China staked out most of it in 1947 but its neighbors have never accepted it. The Spratly Islands alone are claimed by a total of five countries: China, Taiwan, Malaysia, Philippines and Vietnam..All are eyeing oil and gas reserves thought to be so rich that the area has become dubbed "The Second Persian Gulf." Also, an estimated $5 trillion worth of trade is shipped through its waters.
In a speech last month in Cambodia, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton told members of the Asean group of nations – which includes the Philippines, Vietnam and Malaysia – that "maritime security" was one of a number of issues in the region of "central importance" to the U.S., and spoke of "transnational threats" as one area of U.S. government focus.
But perhaps the most dangerous potential flashpoint is farther north in the East China Sea. China and Japan both claim ownership of the uninhabited Senkaku Islands – known as Diaoyu in Chinese – with strong nationalist feelings on both sides........Bonnie Glaser, a senior fellow at the Center for International & Strategic Studies and a consultant to the U.S. government on East Asia, said if China decides to seize the Senkakus – currently administered by Japan – it would likely provoke a military confrontation.
"The U.S. has an interest in trying to ensure that China does not intimidate its neighbors, that it does not use military force or other means to compel its neighbors to accept outcomes that are against their interest," she said.
"Clearly if nations like the Philippines lose confidence in the U.S. ability to serve as the principal regional guarantor, they may embark on a potentially destabilizing arms build-up or accede to the demands of China. Neither would be in the interests of the U.S.," she said.
"We do not want to set up a situation where the Chinese believe the Asia-Pacific is their backyard," she added."
...............................................
The above is from this nbcnews.com
The following is from one of Andrew Bacevich's (retired Army Col and current professor of military history) books.
From the book 'Washington Rules: America's Path To Permanent War'
"For the last half century, as President's have come and gone, the basic edifice of U.S. national security policy has remained unchanged: a worldwide military presence: armed forces configured not for defense but for global power projection: and a penchant for interventionism, whether overt or covert, anywhere at any time. From the age of Harrry Truman to the era of Barack Obama, this triad of principles has remained sacrosanct."
I agree, and unfortunately I do think it will escalate. There is discord all over the globe just on the verge of all hell breaking loose. Its just a matter of time.
I've been watching this situation and it is a bit worrisome. The US is a long time Japanese allie, and China has now warned the US to stay out of it. If this continues to escalate this is not going to be good for anyone.
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