© Aly Song / ReutersChinese sailors look at the USS Lassen, a guided missile destroyer
The passage of the US Navy guided missile destroyer USS Lassen past an artificial island in the Subi Reef of the Spratly archipelago remains under the scrutiny of Chinese military, diplomacy and media.
China's Global Times, known for being closely aligned with China's communist party, published an op-ed entitled: "After the show, it's time for US destroyer to leave", which expressed an unusually cocky opinion of the incident.
"We should stay calm. If we feel disgraced and utter some furious words, it will only make the US achieve its goal of irritating us," the article says, in its analysis of the nature of US harassment. "It seems that the US only wants to display its presence."
"China, despite its unwillingness, is not frightened to fight a war with the US in the region, and is determined to safeguard its national interests and dignity."
The article goes to say that "Beijing ought to carry out anti-harassment operations... should first track US warships. If they, instead of passing by, stop for further actions, it is necessary for us to launch electronic interventions, and even send out warships, lock them by fire-control radar and fly over the US vessels."
Washington has repeatedly expressed unwillingness to recognize China's claims on some islands in the Spratly archipelago, where Beijing has launched massive earthworks. They are creating artificial islands and constructing two air strips capable of receiving military planes, thereby boosting Chinese military presence in the region.
"Beijing's construction work in the area is completely legal, and there is nothing Washington can blame it for," the Global Times said.
With most Chinese export and import operations using South China Sea routes, the region is of crucial importance to the world's second largest economy.
Beijing has consistently expressed readiness to project its economic power and secure its national interests both through diplomacy and a constantly growing military capability. China has not flexed its military muscle since the war with Vietnam in 1979.
On October 27, an American warship sailed through the 12-sea mile (22-kilometer) zone within the islands, a maneuver that raised Beijing's ire.
Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Zhang Yesui lectured US Ambassador Max Baucus on Tuesday, urging the US to "immediately correct its wrongdoing," Xinhua reported.
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi warned the US not to "make trouble out of nothing" in the South China Sea on Tuesday, Xinhua cited the minister.
The US has refuted China's criticism over its patrol in the South China Sea, saying the operation had been carried out in accordance with international law and had not required any special permission.
"The US has conducted naval operations in the South China Sea in recent days and will conduct similar operations in the future," Defense Secretary Ashton Carter said.
"boosting military presence in the region"
If US does it (e.g., encircling Russia), it's fine, OK, wonderful beyond words! (Sarcasm.)
If any "unexceptional" countries do it (i.e., other than the USrael/London controllers or approved flunkies) then it's bad, horrible, threatening, evil, etc. (Sarcasm again.)
We're talking where? Islands just off the coast of??? Any guesses??? (Hint the last war there, the US lost!) I.e., Vietnam, where folks call it the American War.) How many miles is that from the US and 'OUR' [falsely claimed] interests????) About 10 times farther than China!
What a sad fucking farce.
R.C.
P.s., I think that the US ought to be concerned that our once invincible Aircraft Carriers - you remember: the ones that were 'coincidentally" (sarcasm again) NOT at Pearl Harbor but were promptly waiting and ready at Midway?** - Which despite having grown far, far more advanced (huclear power plants, can circle the world without stopping. . . multiple times, nukes like crazy: surface to surface/ship, surface to air, air to air, etc, i.e., bloody powerful.weaponry WILL NOT WORK FROM 20K feet below the surface.
The US should remember that (per my memory; I will defer to informed correction) an old fashion Chinese diesel/Battery powered electric sub popped up in kill range of a US A.C. Carrier about seven? years ago. Who's to say if they did or didn't have nuke torpedoes? Even conventionals would likely have done the job.
US vs. China. In the past seven years, who's technology has advanced faster, would YOU guess?
I.e., Our once invincible A.C. Ships are now just as 'invincible' as were dreadnoughts and their spawn. (See Midway, Coral Sea, WWII Pacifiic campaign.) Billy Mitchell gets the last laugh.
Pearl Harbor truth was my first great disillusionment about the lies my teachers unintentionally taught me. (Now they know that truth if they simply seek it, but they CAN NOT SAY NOR TEACH THAT TRUTH, TO THIS FARGLING DAY!!! - just like USSR or Germany in 1937) I.e., THE TRUTH that Pearl Harbor WAS NO SURPRISE BUT MERELY AN EARLY 'L.I.H.O.P." Read 'Day of Infamy; Day of Deceit!.")
R.C.