China Trying to Counter US Power in the Pacific

[Black Orchid]

Concerns over China's influence in the Pacific region are growing, as reports emerge that the superpower wants to build a military base in Vanuatu.

Council for Security Cooperation in the Asia Pacific co-chair Ralph Cossa said the move was the latest in China's attempts to counter US power in the region.

"It's probably more psychological than it is strategic," he told the ABC's Pacific Beat.

"If ever there was a conflict in the area, I would certainly not want to be living on a Chinese base in Vanuatu.

"But in peacetime, it just sort of increases the Chinese shadow into that area."

China currently has just one overseas military base — in the African country of Djibouti — but has been increasing its presence in the Pacific.

The Lowy Institute said China had contributed more than $2.3 billion in aid to the Pacific since 2006.

Vanuatu is less than 2,000 kilometres from Australia and is one of few countries that has backed China's position on the disputed South China Sea.

Julie Bishop unaware of military base plans
Foreign Minister Julie Bishop said she was unaware of a military offer being made by China to Vanuatu.

"The Government of Vanuatu has said there is no such proposal," Ms Bishop told RN Breakfast.

"We must remember that Vanuatu is a sovereign nation and its foreign and defence relations are a matter for Vanuatu."

Ms Bishop used a trip to Papua New Guinea and Tonga last month to remind Pacific nations that Australia's neighbours are its biggest beneficiaries of aid.

Liberal MP and former Army officer Andrew Hastie said Australians needed to "open our eyes".

"We have foolishly leased (read: sold) the strategic Port of Darwin to a Chinese state-owned enterprise," Mr Hastie wrote on Facebook.

"Now it is reported China is seeking to build a military base in Vanuatu.

"It's time to open our eyes and start looking after our own backyard."

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-04-10/r ... tu/9635742

Amen to Andrew Hastie.

[Black Orchid]

Hastie was SAS and engaged in conflict in the Afghanistan war and in the military intervention against ISIL. He has been there.

About time we listened to people like Hastie who have actually done the hard yards instead of the armchair know nothing politicians we keep feeding into power.

[BigP]

Hastie was SAS and engaged in conflict in the Afghanistan war and in the military intervention against ISIL. He has been there.

About time we listened to people like Hastie who have actually done the hard yards instead of the armchair know nothing politicians we keep feeding into power.

Fuck china, do you know why they sent a monkey up in their first orbital vehicle. Because they wanted the fucken thing to make it back to earth,

Those chinks have absolutly no sence of direction

[Neferti]

Hastie was SAS and engaged in conflict in the Afghanistan war and in the military intervention against ISIL. He has been there.

About time we listened to people like Hastie who have actually done the hard yards instead of the armchair know nothing politicians we keep feeding into power.

Fuck china, do you know why they sent a monkey up in their first orbital vehicle. Because they wanted the fucken thing to make it back to earth,

Those chinks have absolutly no sence of direction

The Yanks put the first monkey into space. Africa is still to compete.

In 1959 NASA went shopping for astronauts at a pet store in Miami. At that point, the U.S. had been sending monkeys to space for a decade: In 1949, rhesus monkey Albert II became the first primate in space, reaching a height of 82 miles aboard a V2 rocket.

[BigP]

Hastie was SAS and engaged in conflict in the Afghanistan war and in the military intervention against ISIL. He has been there.

About time we listened to people like Hastie who have actually done the hard yards instead of the armchair know nothing politicians we keep feeding into power.

Fuck china, do you know why they sent a monkey up in their first orbital vehicle. Because they wanted the fucken thing to make it back to earth,

Those chinks have absolutly no sence of direction

The Yanks put the first monkey into space. Africa is still to compete.

In 1959 NASA went shopping for astronauts at a pet store in Miami. At that point, the U.S. had been sending monkeys to space for a decade: In 1949, rhesus monkey Albert II became the first primate in space, reaching a height of 82 miles aboard a V2 rocket.

Its gonna be tough for the Africans, At the last minute it might dawn on them that they have popped an African into the module by mistake

[Black Orchid]

China has approached Vanuatu about building a permanent military presence in the South Pacific in a globally significant move that could see the rising superpower sail warships on Australia’s doorstep.

While no formal proposals have been put to Vanuatu's government, senior security officials believe Beijing’s plans could culminate in a full military base. The prospect of a Chinese military outpost so close to Australia has been discussed at the highest levels in Canberra and Washington.

A base less than 2000 kilometres from the Australian coast would allow China to project military power into the Pacific Ocean and upend the long-standing strategic balance in the region, potentially increasing the risk of confrontation between China and the United States. It would be the first overseas base China has established in the Pacific, and only its second in the world.

Australian intelligence and security figures, along with their partners in the United States and New Zealand, have been watching with concern as Beijing deepens its influence with Pacific island governments through infrastructure building and loans.

Beijing has been showering Vanuatu, which has a population of about 270,000, with hundreds of millions of dollars in development money and last week committed to building a new official residence for Prime Minister Charlot Salwai as well as other government buildings.

Multiple sources said Beijing’s military ambition in Vanuatu would likely be realised incrementally, possibly beginning with an access agreement that would allow Chinese naval ships to dock routinely and be serviced, refuelled and restocked. This arrangement could then be built on.

Comparisons have been made in Canberra and Washington to methods China has used in the Indian Ocean, where it has recently established its first military base in the African nation of Djibouti and is reportedly considering military facilities in Pakistan and Sri Lanka. The Djibouti base features a port, helicopter base, hangars and accommodation for up to 10,000 troops.

Tonga has also been mentioned in government circles as a possible site for a Chinese base, though recent discussion has centred around the intense efforts China has been putting into Vanuatu.

Defence experts said a military base on Vanuatu, which would likely be followed by bases elsewhere, would allow the PLA to challenge the US’s post-war dominance of the Pacific, which is strongly supported by Australia and has been seen as a cornerstone of Australia’s security.

https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal ... 4z8j9.html

China might have the numbers albeit most of their population is starving and are hidden away but their military 'might' leaves a lot to be desired and would crumple if up against the US.

Here we are spending billions on foreign aid, neglecting and cutting our defence budget, 'selling' off our ports to the Chinese and also selling a good proportion of our real estate to the Chinese yet we will scream for help from the US if, and when, we need it. They must think we are insane.

[BigP]

China has approached Vanuatu about building a permanent military presence in the South Pacific in a globally significant move that could see the rising superpower sail warships on Australia’s doorstep.

While no formal proposals have been put to Vanuatu's government, senior security officials believe Beijing’s plans could culminate in a full military base. The prospect of a Chinese military outpost so close to Australia has been discussed at the highest levels in Canberra and Washington.

A base less than 2000 kilometres from the Australian coast would allow China to project military power into the Pacific Ocean and upend the long-standing strategic balance in the region, potentially increasing the risk of confrontation between China and the United States. It would be the first overseas base China has established in the Pacific, and only its second in the world.

Australian intelligence and security figures, along with their partners in the United States and New Zealand, have been watching with concern as Beijing deepens its influence with Pacific island governments through infrastructure building and loans.

Beijing has been showering Vanuatu, which has a population of about 270,000, with hundreds of millions of dollars in development money and last week committed to building a new official residence for Prime Minister Charlot Salwai as well as other government buildings.

Multiple sources said Beijing’s military ambition in Vanuatu would likely be realised incrementally, possibly beginning with an access agreement that would allow Chinese naval ships to dock routinely and be serviced, refuelled and restocked. This arrangement could then be built on.

Comparisons have been made in Canberra and Washington to methods China has used in the Indian Ocean, where it has recently established its first military base in the African nation of Djibouti and is reportedly considering military facilities in Pakistan and Sri Lanka. The Djibouti base features a port, helicopter base, hangars and accommodation for up to 10,000 troops.

Tonga has also been mentioned in government circles as a possible site for a Chinese base, though recent discussion has centred around the intense efforts China has been putting into Vanuatu.

Defence experts said a military base on Vanuatu, which would likely be followed by bases elsewhere, would allow the PLA to challenge the US’s post-war dominance of the Pacific, which is strongly supported by Australia and has been seen as a cornerstone of Australia’s security.

https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal ... 4z8j9.html

China might have the numbers albeit most of their population is starving and are hidden away but their military 'might' leaves a lot to be desired and would crumple if up against the US.

Here we are spending billions on foreign aid, neglecting and cutting our defence budget, 'selling' off our ports to the Chinese and also selling a good proportion of our real estate to the Chinese yet we will scream for help from the US if, and when, we need it. They must think we are insane.

""and would crumple if up against the US.""


They certainly didnt in Nam and Korea

[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

[Rorschach]

The World needs to get the South China Sea issue settled and put China back in its box before it's too late.

China is flexing its military muscles, so is Russia, soon there will be too many major power problems to mop up.

[brian ross]

China, indeed has over-reached itself. It has left itself extremely vulnerable to naval blockade. It is highly reliant on overseas resources for raw materials, capital and R&D. With those things, it's economy would falter and die. It only has labour to it's advantage and there are other places, just as cheap and better educated to compete with it. We do not need to respond militarily. Indeed, to do so would be both stupid and dangerous. We just need to see sanctions imposed. Cut them off from their raw materials, their capital and their R&D and they are helpless.