China starts "combat ready" patrols in disputed seas

[Zebra]

BEIJING | Thu Jun 28, 2012 9:03am EDT


(Reuters) - China has begun combat-ready patrols in the waters around a disputed group of islands in the South China Sea, the Defence Ministry said on Thursday, the latest escalation in tension over the potentially resource-rich area.

Asked about what China would do in response to Vietnamese air patrols over the Spratly Islands, the ministry's spokesman, Geng Yansheng, said China would "resolutely oppose any militarily provocative behavior".

"In order to protect national sovereignty and our security and development interests, the Chinese military has already set up a normal, combat-ready patrol system in seas under our control," he said.

"The Chinese military's resolve and will to defend territorial sovereignty and protect our maritime rights and interests is firm and unshakeable," Geng added, according to a transcript on the ministry's website (中华人民共和国国防部) (mod.gov.cn) of comments at a briefing.

He did not elaborate. The ministry does not allow foreign reporters to attend its monthly briefings.

China is involved in long-running disputes with Vietnam and the Philippines about ownership of the South China Sea and its myriad, mostly uninhabited, islands and atolls. Taiwan, Malaysia and Brunei also have claims.

Last week, China said it "vehemently opposed" a Vietnamese law asserting sovereignty over the Paracel and Spratly Islands, which straddle key shipping lanes and are thought to contain rich energy reserves.

That row came days after an easing in a months-long standoff between China and the Philippines, but shows the persistent cycle of territorial frictions triggered by what some see as China's growing assertiveness in the area.

The South China Sea is potentially the biggest flashpoint for confrontation in Asia, and tensions have risen since the United States adopted a policy last year to reinforce its influence in the region.

At stake is control over what are believed to be significant reserves of oil and gas.

CNOOC, China's offshore oil specialist, said on its website last weekend that it would invite foreign partners to explore jointly and develop nine blocks in the western part of the South China Sea this year.

On Tuesday, Vietnam said CNOOC's plan was "illegal" and the blocks encroached on Vietnamese territorial waters.

At a regular briefing on Wednesday, China's Foreign Ministry spokesman, Hong Lei, insisted that the tenders were in accord with Chinese and international law and urged Vietnam not to escalate the dispute.

(Reporting by Ben Blanchard, Judy Hua and David Stanway; Editing by Jeremy Laurence and Robert Birsel)

China starts combat ready patrols in disputed seas | Reuters

 

[LETHALFORCE]

PLA has begun "regular, combat-ready patrols" in South China Sea

South China Sea: China Drops a Bombshell


On June 28, during a press briefing by the Chinese Ministry of Defense, Chinese military press spokesman Senior Colonel Geng Yansheng released a bombshell.
Asked by an unnamed correspondent about China's response to Vietnamese air force patrols near the Spratly Islands, Geng made the usual declaration about China's claims to indisputable sovereignty over the Spratlys and their "adjacent waters." He then stated that the PLA had begun "regular, combat-ready patrols" in waters under Chinese jurisdiction.
The implication is clearly that the Chinese navy is now regularly patrolling the waters around the Spratlys and possibly elsewhere in the South China Sea.
This is an alarming escalation of China's efforts to assert sovereignty over the South China Sea region. Until now, the various confrontations and incidents in the area—whether with the Philippines over Scarborough Shoal; the Vietnamese over oil exploration efforts; or the United States in the separate incidents involving the USNS Impeccable, USNS Victorious, and the USS John S. McCain III—have had only civilian participants.
There is a bewildering array of Chinese bureaucracies, each of which assumes responsibility for only a portion of China's maritime interests, including fisheries, agriculture, and the State Oceanic Administration. While this has raised questions about inter-agency coordination in China, the PRC's use of non-military vessels to make its point regarding sovereignty has also limited the potential for escalation.
With the decision to begin regular naval patrols, however—and especially "combat-ready (zhanbei)" ones—the potential for escalation is far greater.
Even more disturbing is that this measure seems to be part of a larger Chinese effort to exercise full sovereignty over the area. In mid-June, the Chinese State Council established a city-level administration over the various islands and waters of the South China Sea, including the Spratlys and Paracels, with its seat of government on Woody Island, an island in the Paracels seized from South Vietnam in 1974.
Then, on June 23, the China National Offshore Oil Corporation invited bids for oil exploration in blocs well within 200 nautical miles of Vietnam's coast.
The Chinese are evidently establishing the legal and political framework to solidify their claims of sovereignty. And with the announcement of patrols, they appear to be taking their preparations to support those claims to the next logical level: that of defending them.

 

[Zero_Wing]

So what let them be ready we are getting ready too

 

[fzaq]

So what let them be ready we are getting ready too

ready for what?

 

[Singh]

Empty sloganeering by China

 

[ice berg]

Certainly no different than Vietnamese "air patrols". Both for domestic consumptions.

 

[Yusuf]

Whats the ground position of troops? Vietnam should do a "Siachen".

 

[Zero_Wing]

We ready to die fighting

 

[LETHALFORCE]

China is putting itself into a position where there will be a military exchange which
will be an embarrassment for China.

 

[Ray]

Combat ready, but is it Combat willing?

Any crossing the threshold will merely bring China's bête noire, the US Pacific Fleet hotfooting to 'ensure peace' and 'safety of international sealanes'!

Tab kiya ho Kaliya?

 

[no smoking]

Combat ready, but is it Combat willing?

Any crossing the threshold will merely bring China's bête noire, the US Pacific Fleet hotfooting to 'ensure peace' and 'safety of international sealanes'!

Tab kiya ho Kaliya?

The only problem is US fleet is not willing to get invovle in the disputed area unless the military conflict in this area blocks the sea transport line which is highly unlikely.

Chinese doesn't need to do it and philipines can't do it.

 

[Zero_Wing]

then try doing it

 

[Oblaks]

then try doing it

Your war mongering is exactly what the CCP. Wants, I just hope the Philippine officials do not think the way you do.

 

[Ray]

The only problem is US fleet is not willing to get invovle in the disputed area unless the military conflict in this area blocks the sea transport line which is highly unlikely.

Chinese doesn't need to do it and philipines can't do it.

That is what you want to believe.

They are always carrying out some exercise or the other right along China's doorstep.

Any conflict causes tension and upsets the global market since none want to go through such areas. Shipping charges go up and the insurance goes up!

Affects the economy and which none will be ready to accept in these times!

 

[no smoking]

That is what you want to believe.

They are always carrying out some exercise or the other right along China's doorstep.

Any conflict causes tension and upsets the global market since none want to go through such areas. Shipping charges go up and the insurance goes up!

Affects the economy and which none will be ready to accept in these times!

Yes, they always has been doing that for half century. The fact is they can do that.

So, what is the standard for this tension which can upsets global market?
In last 70s and 80s, China/Vietnam had 2 wars in this area, the global market wasn't upset!
This year, China and philipine staired at each other for almost 2 months, the global market wasn't upset!
Maybe, you didn't realise: south china sea is such a huge area. It is too naive to think that sea transportaton would be upset by any war thousand miles away.
The fact is there is no country in this area has the ability to upset the global market except china. And China is the last one wanting to do that because itself is relying on these sea transport.

 

[Oblaks]

Yes, they always has been doing that for half century. The fact is they can do that.

So, what is the standard for this tension which can upsets global market?
In last 70s and 80s, China/Vietnam had 2 wars in this area, the global market wasn't upset!
This year, China and philipine staired at each other for almost 2 months, the global market wasn't upset!
Maybe, you didn't realise: south china sea is such a huge area. It is too naive to think that sea transportaton would be upset by any war thousand miles away.
The fact is there is no country in this area has the ability to upset the global market except china. And China is the last one wanting to do that because itself is relying on these sea transport.

The reason why shipping lanes have not been disturbed is because despite of those skirmishes, China's has not been successful in taking the area it claims which is the vast entire SCS. If china does, then the CCP will have that ability to be selective of the vessels passing through the area. That means they might only allow passage of those which are beneficial to china. Remember the 9-dash claim of china claims the area not merely as their eez but as their territory. If they only claim it as their EEZ, then UNCLOS provisions of open sea lanes will take effect. But it is successful in claiming the area as territory then they have full control of the entire SCS

 

[amitkriit]

Countering China: India's Baaz to spy the Malacca Strait

New Delhi: In about a fortnight from now, Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Nirmal Verma will kick start the process of turning a small and sparingly used Indian military outpost at the very southern-most tip of the Andaman Nicobar Islands into a full-fledged "forward operating base." The Naval Air Station (NAS) Campbell Bay overlooking the six degree Channel, one of the most crucial shipping lanes of the world, will soon become India's eye over the Malacca strait and the Bay of Bengal. The new air station will be rechristened the Naval Air Station (NAS) Baaz.

The six degree channel flows into the Malacca Strait which is one of the most crucial maritime choke points. The 900-kilometre long (550 miles) Malacca Strait connects Asia with the Middle East and Europe. About 40 per cent of the world's trade and more than 50,000 merchant ships sail through it every year. It has assumed even greater importance with the stupendous rise of China in the last decade. Nearly 80 per cent of China's crude oil imports from the Middle East and Africa pass through the Malacca strait. And, an estimated 15 million barrels per day of oil flow through the Malacca Strait from the Middle East Gulf and West.

Sources tell NDTV that in the next few years the Campbell air strip will be increased substantially from the present 3000 odd feet to over 6000 feet. Heavy transport aircraft like the C130J have already landed at Campbell Bay air strip early this year. "Our ability to monitor the Bay of Bengal, the Malacca Strait, will go up exponentially," a senior Naval officer told NDTV. The Campbell Bay air field as of now is very thinly used and doesn't have facility to either maintain or refuel aircrafts. But expansion will mean that INS Baaz will soon have full-fledged hangers that will enable India to maintain and repair aircraft. The manpower deployment too will increase manifold.

As of the now India has fully operational air bases at Diglipur, Port Blair and Carnic. However, the distance between Carnic Island and Campbell Bay is over 300 nautical miles - roughly the same between Delhi and Bhopal. The Carnic base is operated by the Indian Air Force. Now, instead of operating out of Carnic Island, Indian assets will be able to operate out of Campbell Bay which will substantially add to its reach in the region.

Naval Air Station Baaz becomes operational at a time when India anticipates an increase in military maritime traffic in the region. This follows United States enunciating its new strategy i.e., "Rebalancing of Military Strategy with focus on Asia-Pacific." It envisages major changes in deployment and proposes that at least 60 per cent of US Naval assets would be deployed in Asia-Pacific. India, however, refused, to accept the American line.

In the last few years, China has been become increasingly assertive in the Indian Ocean Region. Piracy along the horn of Africa and Arabian Sea has also, in a way, proved to be a bonanza for China - it has given China a valid reason to position its warships in the region. The development of the Campbell air base into a fully equipped forward operating base appears to be India's means of keep a hold over the area.

=================
China is now being run by hawks, they overestimate their capabilities, and underestimate the global reaction. This is an extremely dangerous situation emerging in the South China sea.

 

[Zero_Wing]

Your war mongering is exactly what the CCP. Wants, I just hope the Philippine officials do not think the way you do.

they don't we still building up a credible defense force

 

[no smoking]

The reason why shipping lanes have not been disturbed is because despite of those skirmishes, China's has not been successful in taking the area it claims which is the vast entire SCS. If china does, then the CCP will have that ability to be selective of the vessels passing through the area. That means they might only allow passage of those which are beneficial to china. Remember the 9-dash claim of china claims the area not merely as their eez but as their territory. If they only claim it as their EEZ, then UNCLOS provisions of open sea lanes will take effect. But it is successful in claiming the area as territory then they have full control of the entire SCS

Clearly, you have no idea what is the real claim of each country involved.
Let me tell you: every country including China only claims the island instead of the whole sea area.
The point you failed to know is that all of them claim whole or part of south china sea as their EEZ.
So, your assumption is wrong!

 

[Oblaks]

Clearly, you have no idea what is the real claim of each country involved.
Let me tell you: every country including China only claims the island instead of the whole sea area.
The point you failed to know is that all of them claim whole or part of south china sea as their EEZ.
So, your assumption is wrong!

OK Mr. Know it all. Clearly your knowledge about the disputes in the SCS is very shallow. Have you heard of China's nine dashed line to the SCS. can explain that because even China has problems explainiing that to the world.