China Trying to Counter US Power in the Pacific

[Rorschach]

BTW the South China Sea is NOT the Pacific Ocean.

[Black Orchid]

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull is insisting on Australia’s “perfect right” to sail its fleet through the South China Sea after a robust exchange in the disputed waters between Australian frigates and the Chinese navy.

Mr Turnbull said Australia asserted its right to freedom of navigation throughout the world’s oceans, including the South China Sea.

The remark came after the ABC reported that three Royal Australian Navy vessels were “challenged” by Chinese forces when sailing through the region earlier this month.

Mr Turnbull did not confirm or deny the event but declared that Australia had a right to the freedom to send its navy through the international waters.

China claims many parts of the sea as its territorial waters but has come under strong criticism for building a series of military bases on reefs near neighbours including Vietnam and the Philippines.

“All I can say to you is we maintain and practice the right of freedom of navigation and overflight throughout the world,” Mr Turnbull said.

“In this context, you’re talking about naval vessels on the world’s oceans including the South China Sea, as is our perfect right in accordance with international law.”

The ABC reported that the Chinese navy challenged the three Australian warships on why they were in the South China Sea, citing an official who described the exchanges as “robust” but polite.

https://www.smh.com.au/world/asia/turnb ... 4zanh.html

South China Sea

[Rorschach]

Still not the Pacific....

China in the Pacific is current situations like Fiji and places like the Solomons or even PNG. Buying influence... this seems to be the fear that western countries seem to have.

Mind you we sold/leased them the port of Darwin.

[Black Orchid]

It may not have looked like much of a match — or a showdown for that matter — but when Australia's largest warship HMAS Adelaide arrived at the Fijian port of Suva today, it had an interesting neighbour.

The Royal Australian Navy had been tipped off by Fijian officials that a Chinese "fishing vessel" would also dock, and nestle alongside the new Canberra-class landing helicopter dock.

However this Chinese fishing boat is tasked with pursuing a very different catch.

Beneath its bow is believed to be a whole gamut of surveillance equipment — it is also a spy ship intent on marine mischief, camouflaged to look like its more interested in tuna, marlin and dogfish.

Australia's Navy, like every navy around the world, is well-versed in these sorts of nautical games.

"If you're in the Navy you presume that anytime that a fishing vessel or even merchant fleets of nations like China are around that they may have a dual purpose", ANU academic and retired Australian Naval Commodore Richard Menhinick said.

[Black Orchid]

China's looking for South Pacific foothold
Chinese presence — both commercial and military — is common in the South Pacific.

Beijing sees economic opportunity in the region and economic imperatives commonly herald other strategic interests.

Agriculture and aquaculture projects in Vanuatu, Fiji, Tonga and other Pacific nations have been given significant help by the Chinese over the years, as have roads, ports and other infrastructure.

When you have more than 1.3 billion people back home to feed, finding secure food supplies are critical.

As China grows, Mr Menhinick said it was not surprising that the nation's presence in the Pacific was also increasing.

"China's a rising power… economic power's always led and the military's followed, and the Chinese economic interest in the south-west Pacific has increased substantially over the last fifteen year," he said.

But Australia and its strategic partners are anxious China does not use its presence to jeopardise regional structures — political, economic and diplomatic.

Now a visiting US General, has given the strongest public indication yet that his nation would like Australia to join in naval and air patrols to challenge Beijing's claims in the South China Sea.

Asked whether joint American-Australian patrols would be welcomed by America, the commander of US Marines in the Pacific, Lieutenant General David Berger gave an enthusiastic response.

"Obviously that's Australia's decision, would we welcome that? Absolutely yes," Lt Gen Berger said.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-06-09/c ... ji/9852748

Wanting to build a military base in the region and now they are tailing our ships

[Redneck]

China is a fucking worry!

Simple as that!

WW3 is only a matter of time in my opinion!

[Black Orchid]

The US would squash them like ants but it still amazes me how stupid we were to sell off Port Darwin. If necessary, I am sure the yanks would just take it if they needed it but what an incredibly stupid thing to do.