USS Lassen to pass inside China's claimed 12km territory at Spratley's

**Parihaka** · 27 Oct 15,, 06:48

http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2015/1...233643088.html

**HKDan** · 27 Oct 15,, 07:22

That was a long time coming and thankfully passed without incident.

**Doktor** · 27 Oct 15,, 07:24

Now what?

**HKDan** · 27 Oct 15,, 08:40

Angry words about sovereignty apparently

http://www.shanghaidaily.com/nationa.../shdaily.shtml

**Parihaka** · 27 Oct 15,, 09:07

And regular rinse and repeat by the US and others until China gets the point.

**Triple C** · 27 Oct 15,, 14:05

What kind of armament can you put on an artificial atoll of that size? Supposedly the Chinese themselves consider the atoll a symbolic gesture that stands no chance against a USN warship.

**TopHatter** · 27 Oct 15,, 16:59

Originally Posted by Triple C

What kind of armament can you put on an artificial atoll of that size? Supposedly the Chinese themselves consider the atoll a symbolic gesture that stands no chance against a USN warship.

From the pictures I've seen, plenty. Especially if there's an airfield.

Of course, the Chinese are correct: If the U.S. decided to resurface that atoll, it'd be a simple matter of GPS coordinates. But that would mean full-on war with China and nobody wants that.

So, symbolic gesture becomes (or attempts to become) sovereign territory.

**Stitch** · 27 Oct 15,, 17:20

Originally Posted by Triple C

What kind of armament can you put on an artificial atoll of that size? Supposedly the Chinese themselves consider the atoll a symbolic gesture that stands no chance against a USN warship.

I have heard (via NPR) that they have actually managed to construct runways and docks on some of the atolls and, therefore, consider the islands to be sovereign Chinese territory. Legally, the USS Lassen was within it's rights to sail at the 12-mile limit, but I think the Chinese consider the international demarcation line to be 20 miles (33 km) out; this is a naval version of flying a B-52 over the islands like we did a couple of years ago.

U.S. Destroyer Sails Near Disputed Islands In South China Sea

**Oracle** · 27 Oct 15,, 18:28

American warship in South China Sea: US says more frequent patrols expected

Why are the Chinese always complaining like a teenager? Use the damn J-20 invisible fighter and blast the US warship.

**Stitch** · 27 Oct 15,, 19:16

Originally Posted by Oracle

American warship in South China Sea: US says more frequent patrols expected

Why are the Chinese always complaining like a teenager? Use the damn J-20 invisible fighter and blast the US warship.

Where's that darn "like" button again!?!?!?!?

**gunnut** · 27 Oct 15,, 20:06

Originally Posted by Oracle

American warship in South China Sea: US says more frequent patrols expected

Why are the Chinese always complaining like a teenager? Use the damn J-20 invisible fighter and blast the US warship.

"Skin that smoke wagon and go to work. Or are you just gonna stand there and bleed?"

**Native** · 27 Oct 15,, 20:25

Back in the 80's & 90's, we did FON all the time, but honestly we did steer clear of the Spratley's for the most part, so as not to antagonize them.
They have been building up and militarizing those atolls for decades. I remember them bringing out a tank and parking it on one.

**Skywatcher** · 27 Oct 15,, 23:18

Considering that the PLAN already has sailed quite close to the Alaskan coastline, a lot of their protests sound like it's contractually obliged.

**Inst** · 29 Oct 15,, 20:12

Beijing will retaliate with its demilitarized Coast Guard; i.e, they block the way of FON with fishing vessels and other "civilian" ships so if the US tries to retaliate it'll be blasting "civilians" and it can make a scene. It's what it's been doing in the SCS for ages.

Beijing's endgame will probably be a negotiated solution with claimants, because they can't simply be so daft as to think they can unconditionally annex the SCS. They probably want military sovereignty and suzerainity in the region; economic benefits can be traded away, but they are taking a damn long time to get to the end-game. I guess if they have an irritating wound, they see no incentive to pull back and pull out.

**Skywatcher** · 29 Oct 15,, 23:18

Originally Posted by Inst

Beijing will retaliate with its demilitarized Coast Guard; i.e, they block the way of FON with fishing vessels and other "civilian" ships so if the US tries to retaliate it'll be blasting "civilians" and it can make a scene. It's what it's been doing in the SCS for ages.

Beijing's endgame will probably be a negotiated solution with claimants, because they can't simply be so daft as to think they can unconditionally annex the SCS. They probably want military sovereignty and suzerainity in the region; economic benefits can be traded away, but they are taking a damn long time to get to the end-game. I guess if they have an irritating wound, they see no incentive to pull back and pull out.

They're probably just betting that if they offer to settle for the status quo 5-10 years from now, everyone will jump right in (besides, Xi has a lot of other stuff on his plate).