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View Full Version : US warships head for South China Sea after standoff


-Cp
03-13-2009, 01:23 AM
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/us_and_americas/article5898650.ece

A potential conflict was brewing last night in the South China Sea after President Obama dispatched heavily armed American destroyers to the scene of a naval standoff between the US and China at the weekend.

Mr Obama’s decision to send an armed escort for US surveillance ships in the area follows the aggressive and co-ordinated manoeuvres of five Chinese boats on Sunday. They harassed and nearly collided with an unarmed American vessel.

Washington accused the Chinese ships of moving directly in front of the US Navy surveillance ship Impeccable, forcing its crew to take emergency action, and to deploy a high-pressure water hose to deter the Chinese ships. Formal protests were lodged with Beijing after the incident.

On a day that Mr Obama and his senior officials met the Chinese Foreign Minister, Yang Jiechi, in Washington, Beijing showed no sign of backing down. Its military chiefs accused the unarmed US Navy ship of being on a spying mission.
avatar4321
03-13-2009, 01:26 AM
looks like China is testing the waters to see how far Obama is going to move if there is an incident.
PostmodernProphet
03-13-2009, 06:31 AM
military-to-military dialogue

....is this newspeak for an exchange of fire?.......
Nukeman
03-13-2009, 08:57 AM
I don't see a problem with the Chinese protecting their own area. How would the US respond if the Chinese were conducting exercises just off our coast or in the Gulf of Mexico?? they have every right to inspect suspecious craft in their waters just as we do.....

We were after all, spying on them with that ship....
-Cp
03-13-2009, 10:32 AM
I don't see a problem with the Chinese protecting their own area. How would the US respond if the Chinese were conducting exercises just off our coast or in the Gulf of Mexico?? they have every right to inspect suspecious craft in their waters just as we do.....

We were after all, spying on them with that ship....

Right...it's cause they ARE CHINA!! They NEED to be spied on etc...
Nukeman
03-13-2009, 11:38 AM
Right...it's cause they ARE CHINA!! They NEED to be spied on etc...

Not disputing that fact in any way; however, we should EXPECT that they will not like us spying on them. Just as we don't like it when they spy on us.... I have a hard time exempting the US form any retaliation due to our "covert" operations.... To say otherwise is hypocriticle
DannyR
03-13-2009, 12:04 PM
....is this newspeak for an exchange of fire?.......:thumb: Gotta remember that one.

Reminds me of a local news reporter who, when police chased down a fleeing suspect and were beating the guy with clubs, described the incident as the police showing the guy their affection.



looks like China is testing the waters to see how far Obama is going to move if there is an incident.Wow, guess Biden was right.
-Cp
03-13-2009, 12:14 PM
Not disputing that fact in any way; however, we should EXPECT that they will not like us spying on them. Just as we don't like it when they spy on us.... I have a hard time exempting the US form any retaliation due to our "covert" operations.... To say otherwise is hypocriticle

But it's okay to be a hypocrite in this case because we're the USA and they are well..... they're China.. :P
5stringJeff
03-13-2009, 05:49 PM
Economic exclusiviy zones (EECs) are not sovereign waters. Every ship bearing any flag is allowed to sail through them. China is wrong.
jon_forward
03-13-2009, 08:40 PM
International waters mean just that, international, china is wrong.
Nukeman
03-13-2009, 08:43 PM
In international water they are allowed to protect their own interest are they not??? Just as we are allowed to protect OUR own interest. that being said

WE WERE SPYING ON THEM, they took offense and called us on it.. Just like WE would do......:coffee:
-Cp
03-13-2009, 11:35 PM
In international water they are allowed to protect their own interest are they not??? Just as we are allowed to protect OUR own interest. that being said

WE WERE SPYING ON THEM, they took offense and called us on it.. Just like WE would do......:coffee:

what'cha mean? Friggin china is always spying and stealing our crap...
5stringJeff
03-14-2009, 08:26 AM
In international water they are allowed to protect their own interest are they not??? Just as we are allowed to protect OUR own interest. that being said

WE WERE SPYING ON THEM, they took offense and called us on it.. Just like WE would do......:coffee:

I'm sure they want to protect their national interest, but if our ships are in international waters, they don't have a legal leg to stand on.