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US B-52 bombers challenge disputed China air zone.

Higgins86 said:
They threatened China, Taiwan and even Korea complained about it openly. Don't under estimate the mistrust much of Asia has for Japan.
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When did Japan "threaten" China, and how?
 
joko104 said:
I don't see any reason why we should give a **** about those islands.

Personally, I think declaring Japan our ally and China our enemy immediately after WWII - even declaring China doesn't exist for decades - was among the worst foreign policy decisions in USA history.
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Why don't you find them on a map, and it will PAINFULLY clear.
 
Manc Skipper said:
Who died and made you the world police?
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Says the guy whose country colonized the whole ****ing world. Have you no shame, when judging other people?
 
Higgins86 said:
I don't think its as simple as that, unlike Guam and Hawaii these are uninhabited islands. Japan claimed them in 1895 during their aggressive expanision period, during this period as many of you know Japan murdered and raped their way through Asia. The debate over these islands runs deeper than China just trying to "flex" and it is also worth pointing out that China are not the only Asian power who disagrees with Japan over who own's these islands.
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It's not about the islands. It's about China expanding their military air space and control of the sea lanes. China is trying the same in more southern seas but those islands have oil, and are also claimed by about four other countries. But as I said, in this case, it's about military power; air space and sea lane control.
 
Manc Skipper said:
Who died and made you the world police?
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Me personally? I'm sorry you missed the coronation. It was spectacular!!!

As for the US, we have a mutual defense treaty with Japan, and many other countries, including yours... so in way... you did.
 
Beaudreaux said:
It's not about the islands. It's about China expanding their military air space and control of the sea lanes. China is trying the same in more southern seas but those islands have oil, and are also claimed by about four other countries. But as I said, in this case, it's about military power; air space and sea lane control.
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I dont disagree that China have been seeking to strengthen their position in the region but there is a massive amount of anti-Japenese sentiment in China from the government all the way down to the workers. There has been protests in China and even boycotts of Japenese prodcuts. Basically I dont think this is 100% a move to test America's resolve I think its a lot deeper than that.
 
Beaudreaux said:
It's not about the islands. It's about China expanding their military air space and control of the sea lanes. China is trying the same in more southern seas but those islands have oil, and are also claimed by about four other countries. But as I said, in this case, it's about military power; air space and sea lane control.
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And oil with these islands too apparently:

"...The territory is valued for its fishing and shipping lanes, but more recently China and Japan have expressed interest in tapping its potential oil wealth..."
US flies bombers over disputed islands claimed by China | Fox News
 
CanadaJohn said:
Thank you for the kind words - much appreciated - and I enjoy your posts, that I've seen during my time here. Part of the fun of being here is to be able to disagree or to share opinions that may get people thinking. I enjoy when people don't agree, if they have good reasons - but I also enjoy when people agree - good to be validated on occasion. And I have to just close by saying that America doesn't get near the validation they deserve from the rest of the world so I like to show some when I can.
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Thank you. It IS good to be able to agree. I also have no problem with most that I disagree with here, because they give me an opportunity to examine alternative view points, and for the most part in a reasonable and civil manner.
 
Ray410 said:
Gotta draw the line somewhere. Otherwise they just keep pushing the limit.
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They keep pushing the limit? They?

We are the ones provoking them. When is the last time any foreign (possible enemy) nation flew aircraft near or over US air space?

If China flew over some Aleutian Islands people like you would be screaming your head off, right?
 
Manc Skipper said:
Who died and made you the world police?
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All of the Allied powers of WWII did... happily. It was not until decades later that everybody started bitching about it.
 
Porchev said:
And oil with these islands too apparently:

"...The territory is valued for its fishing and shipping lanes, but more recently China and Japan have expressed interest in tapping its potential oil wealth..."
US flies bombers over disputed islands claimed by China | Fox News
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The air and sea lanes are enough to keep us involved. Oil makes it dangerous. Oil, steel and other industrial commodities are what lead to the Second Sino-Japanese War (culminating into our involvement in WWII).
 
joko104 said:
Wow, does that seem stupid. The ONLY motivation I can see for doing so is to try to push China deeper into an arms race - which of course is something the military defense industry always wants.
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It should be clarified as well (since the OP link doesn't), that we're claiming these bomber flights were on the books as part of an ongoing training exercise for whatever it's worth...

NBC News link
Monday evening ET, two B-52 bombers took off from Anderson Air Force Base in Guam as part of an ongoing training exercise called Coral Lightning Global Power Training Sortie. The bombers were in the ADIZ for less than one hour, Warren said.

This was a "long-planned training exercise," and the U.S. did not inform the Chinese of their flight plan, Warren said.
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Higgins86 said:
I dont disagree that China have been seeking to strengthen their position in the region but there is a massive amount of anti-Japenese sentiment in China from the government all the way down to the workers. There has been protests in China and even boycotts of Japenese prodcuts. Basically I dont think this is 100% a move to test America's resolve I think its a lot deeper than that.
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I have spent a good amount of time in Asia, from Japan to the Philippines. The Chinese hate the Japanese. The Japanese hate the Chinese. The Koreans hate the Chinese, the Japanese, the Philippinos, etc.

I've never seen hatred and racism like exists in Asia, anywhere else in the world. They tend to use whatever excuse handy to hate the other. What you describe is just another example.

In Guam, there are relatively large populations of each Asian group either living there or vacationing there. When I was there for 9 months following Super Typhoon Paka, I saw this hatred and racism daily, and it was ugly and dangerous.
 
Beaudreaux said:
I have spent a good amount of time in Asia, from Japan to the Philippines. The Chinese hate the Japanese. The Japanese hate the Chinese. The Koreans hate the Chinese, the Japanese, the Philippinos, etc.

I've never seen hatred and racism like exists in Asia, anywhere else in the world. They tend to use whatever excuse handy to hate the other. What you describe is just another example.

In Guam, there are relatively large populations of each Asian group either living there or vacationing there. When I was there for 9 months following Super Typhoon Paka, I saw this hatred and racism daily, and it was ugly and dangerous.
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Its def a potential massive conflict waiting to happen. Its a tough spot for the Americans as well because they have to tread that line. Obviously the US presence is needed in the area but I think you obviously have to respect Chinas sovereignty and sometimes you have to let these countries work out a soloution themselves. Like I have said before I don't envy Americas global position but having said that I think they were a little rash with the B-52 bombers.
 
Higgins86 said:
Its def a potential massive conflict waiting to happen. Its a tough spot for the Americans as well because they have to tread that line. Obviously the US presence is needed in the area but I think you obviously have to respect Chinas sovereignty and sometimes you have to let these countries work out a soloution themselves. Like I have said before I don't envy Americas global position but having said that I think they were a little rash with the B-52 bombers.
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We've been flying over those islands since WWII. It is one of the main corridors for transit between Japan, Taiwan and Korea. The Defense Department stated this was a scheduled training mission (which it may or may not have been). Just because one country decides unilaterally to claim a few thousand square miles of ocean and the air space over it, doesn't mean that other countries have to agree.

We and others have every right to transit that area. China has two options; get consensus from the world community that they now own (sovereign claim) that area, or attack those that cross that area. I doubt they are prepared to do the latter.

In this instance, I don't feel it's the duty of Japan, the US or anyone else to counter the claim, but rather the duty of China to defend and justify it. In other words, we shouldn't have to appease anyone, they should justify it to the satisfaction of the world community.
 
I think it would have been funnier if we would have flown two stealth B-2 bombers over the islands.

China may have never known.
 
Beaudreaux said:
We've been flying over those islands since WWII. It is one of the main corridors for transit between Japan, Taiwan and Korea. The Defense Department stated this was a scheduled training mission (which it may or may not have been). Just because one country decides unilaterally to claim a few thousand square miles of ocean and the air space over it, doesn't mean that other countries have to agree.

We and others have every right to transit that area. China has two options; get consensus from the world community that they now own (sovereign claim) that area, or attack those that cross that area. I doubt they are prepared to do the latter.

In this instance, I don't feel it's the duty of Japan, the US or anyone else to counter the claim, but rather the duty of China to defend and justify it. In other words, we shouldn't have to appease anyone, they should justify it to the satisfaction of the world community.
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I just think they could of re-routed the planes just until the situation has been addressed fully. Is it worth triggering an international incident over some uninhabited islands in which the US has no vested interest? Just seems to me like Japan are happy to hide behind America.
 
Higgins86 said:
I just think they could of re-routed the planes just until the situation has been addressed fully.
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Or China could have backed off its threats of action against activity (most of it commercial, not military) which has been going on for 70 years until the situation has been addressed fully.
 
Higgins86 said:
I just think they could of re-routed the planes just until the situation has been addressed fully. Is it worth triggering an international incident over some uninhabited islands in which the US has no vested interest? Just seems to me like Japan are happy to hide behind America.
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It isn't the islands.

If we start going around, we've agreed with the seizure of that area.

China's the one that's making the problem. Not those that disagree with their aggressive move.

Make no mistake... China is the aggressor here.
 
Ray410 said:
No one does, the issue is Chinese expansion and aggressiveness.
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Chinese expansion and aggression? :lamoIf you Yanks expand any more around the globe you will begin to lap yourselves! As for aggression, it's about time you picked on a powerful nation instead of the usual military midgets you beat up on. Even if China is nowhere near as powerful militarily as Murka.

 
I understand why we did it, but it doesnt make sense less than a week after we gave the whole show away in the Iran deal. Seems to me, we're pickng the wrong fight.
 
The Misanthrope said:
Chinese expansion and aggression? :lamoIf you Yanks expand any more around the globe you will begin to lap yourselves! As for aggression, it's about time you picked on a powerful nation instead of the usual military midgets you beat up on. Even if China is nowhere near as powerful militarily as Murka.

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The Fillipinos are glad that we posess our military power. It's a good thing we do, since Australia can't.
 
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