South China Sea and China (2011-2017)

[Backwards Observer]

Is it not odd, then, that the two people posting here that actually live near the South China Sea are the ones who seem least fearful?

No... it is rather like this: (I quote)

(You) is an ideologue with a specific ideological agenda, and I wouldn't base an opinion on anything (you) writes or publishes. I know (you) refers to a (supposed local knowledge), but we all know those (experiences) can be cherrypicked to "support" any number of agendas. A whole lot of looking into the other side of the picture would be called for.

I think I'm bang on here.

And the other one is, well...you know...a Chinese. Draw your own conclusions.

[davidbfpo]

There has been quite a lot of comment here and analysis elsewhere, albeit some months ago, regarding the use of non-naval ships in incidents in this maritime area. IIRC IISS published an Adelphi Paper on the growth in para-military / non-naval / law enforcement vessels in the Pacific; sometimes with very odd aspects, like US Coast Guard ships carrying Chinese law enforcement staff in the Bering Street area.

So this latest incident with Chinese maritime surveillance ships comes as no surprise.

One of the big issue in the South China Sea is the lack of information on whose ships are where and what are they doing.

Vietnam's maritime safety bureau or whatever it is called has several very modern, state of the art, Swedish built maritime surveillance aircraft and is one of the few countries that has the capability to gather and process the information. Incidentally the USCG has a few of them too.

I am 95% certain the aircraft sold isthe Saab 2000 MPA:http://www.saabgroup.com/Air/Airborn...Saab_2000_MPA/

[Ken White]

There has been quite a lot of comment here and analysis elsewhere.

Though I doubt the analysis is much more accurate than the comment...

[JMA]

And the other one is, well...you know...a Chinese. Draw your own conclusions.

That makes you right or makes you wrong?

Or half right and half wrong?

[Backwards Observer]

That makes you right or makes you wrong?

Or half right and half wrong?

As a crusty Brit-Aussie transplant Vietnam vet used to take pleasure in saying, "He's a wong, but he's all white." Har ####ing har...nice guy though.

[JMA]

As a crusty Brit-Aussie transplant Vietnam vet used to take pleasure in saying, "He's a wong, but he's all white." Har ####ing har...nice guy though.

Good to see the sense of humour is intact.

Now what the Chinese going to do in the next ten years that we need to be afraid about?