South China Sea

What's the point in having a UN council though if the larger countries are just going to ignore what they say.

Unfortunately the UN has absolutely no bargaining power when it comes to adding weight to their decisions. Let's face it, they're hardly going to round up 10 countries to start WW3 against China. Sanctions would be a waste of time as well - so the UN requests that all western countries cease trading with China. Our country is already about to go through a mess, this would be a case of cut your nose off to spite your face.
 
Avenged7Fold said:
Ofc, i dont doubt that.

I just hope that the Fillipino government does not do anything rash or that America does not encourage them to provoke China
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The US navy keeps demanding passage without interference so there may be a spark or two there. God knows what will happen if Trump gets in.
 
Semple said:
, this would be a case of cut your nose off to spite your face.
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Yes. But we just did that.

Cosimo said:
The US navy keeps demanding passage without interference so there may be a spark or two there. God knows what will happen if Trump gets in.
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Precisely.
Plus genuine grievances from the Philipines (a long term US ally) Australia, Vietnam etc. It's getting uglier out there
 
Cosimo said:
The US navy keeps demanding passage without interference so there may be a spark or two there. God knows what will happen if Trump gets in.
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Why shouldn't they demand passage without interference? It's international waters.

I'm more concerned with what China will do - they've invested a lot in their military over the past few decades and they will be under pressure to use it. Funnily enough I was watching "55 days in Peking" at the weekend.
 
Phage said:
Yes. But we just did that.



Precisely.
Plus genuine grievances from the Philipines (a long term US ally) Australia, Vietnam etc. It's getting uglier out there
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yeah, it's getting ugly, but the truth remains no one has got the balls to open fire on the Chinese navy because if they did I think they all know what the net result will be. China know this and will therefore carry on playing the game
 
The best thing to happen here is once again the US should keep their noses firmly out. They are and have been meddling in this area for years.

China does have a valid claim on some of these islands there can be no doubt. Its a pity the nations cannot agree on a split as there are more than just two claims on the islands. I don't agree however with Chinas exclusive zone.
 
Securing the South China Sea is fundamental to China's long term ambition of control of Taiwan, and being the dominant military force in Asia. They're not going to give a toss what other countries think about their actions there.

The strategy right now is essentially squatters rights. Eventually, people will stop complaining about their presence in the area because they will have been there so long.
 
Judgeneo said:
Securing the South China Sea is fundamental to China's long term ambition of control of Taiwan, and being the dominant military force in Asia. They're not going to give a toss what other countries think about their actions there.

The strategy right now is essentially squatters rights. Eventually, people will stop complaining about their presence in the area because they will have been there so long.
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I'm hoping that's where it stops. I think we would not be so sanguine if some built an island in the North Sea.
 
I think it is very impressive what they have built there and don't blame them tbh. They will probably enter discussions now just to defuse the situation, they have achieved what they need to for the time being. The US can send all the fleets it wants to, but Chinese defence tech will sink the whole lot. Lots of posturing, but nothing will come of it, all sides need each other in the long run. The US must be getting nervous, the Chinese are rapidly catching them financially and in terms of military tech.
 
With the Chinese building a practically impenetrable wall, the US and other Asian nations there will have to capitulate, as unless the US wants just level the islands... the Chinese are just going to build more.

The US carrier fleets risk too much with the new Hypersonic missiles in play.
 
CaptainRAVE said:
I think it is very impressive what they have built there and don't blame them tbh. They will probably enter discussions now just to defuse the situation, they have achieved what they need to for the time being. The US can send all the fleets it wants to, but Chinese defence tech will sink the whole lot. Lots of posturing, but nothing will come of it, all sides need each other in the long run. The US must be getting nervous, the Chinese are rapidly catching them financially and in terms of military tech.
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Sorry - you think deliberately destroying coral reefs to build token settlements on uninhabitable islands is "impressive"?
 
CaptainRAVE said:
I think it is very impressive what they have built there and don't blame them tbh. They will probably enter discussions now just to defuse the situation, they have achieved what they need to for the time being. The US can send all the fleets it wants to, but Chinese defence tech will sink the whole lot. Lots of posturing, but nothing will come of it, all sides need each other in the long run. The US must be getting nervous, the Chinese are rapidly catching them financially and in terms of military tech.
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Impressive ? Naked aggression and environmental vandalism ?
That's an 'interesting' point of view.

I think that the US is far less concerned than the Phillipines, Vietnam, Malaysia and Brunei. If left unchallenged, it could make navigation an issue in a strategic location, and China may be emboldened to act on Taiwan by force knowing that the international community is all bark and no bite (see: Crimea)
(props to TooNice on Hexus for the succinct phrasing).
 
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