Pentagon Mulls Sending Planes, Ships Near Disputed South China Sea Islands

[Purveyor]

Source: Reuters

The Pentagon is considering sending U.S. military aircraft and ships to assert freedom of navigation around rapidly growing Chinese-made artificial islands in the disputed South China Sea, a U.S. official said on Tuesday.

U.S. Defense Secretary Ash Carter requested options that include sending U.S. military ships and aircraft within 12 nautical miles (22 km) of reefs that China has been building up in the disputed Spratly Islands, the official said.

Such a move would directly challenge Chinese efforts to expand its influence in the disputed region by literally adding territory through a massive island-building exercise.

"We are considering how to demonstrate freedom of navigation in an area that is critical to world trade," the U.S. official said, speaking on condition of anonymity, adding that any options would need to be approved by the White House.

Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/05/13/us-usa-china-military-idUSKBN0NX2ON20150513

[gordianot]

1. With all those assets in one place bound to be an accident or two.

The oil fever must really be getting hot.

[whereisjustice]

2. Pentagon Mulls Sending Planes... Wall Street Sends More Jobs... you can't have it both ways.

[newthinking]

3. When will we get out the old books and work to re-form international bodies

We (and others, but we did a lot) have completely undermined international institutions and the game has changed. Now other countries are asserting their "rights" to unilaterally expressing their "interests".

Previous generations understood that diplomacy and creating negotiated structure, while slow to work, and actually in the long run effective. What has happened to us that we have lost that wisdom?

It is now a "free for all" for world resources. The arctic rush for resources is just starting to heat up.

[LTG]

4. Freedom of Navigation principle goes back almost 400 years

The first international attempts to create a right of free and unmolested passage, by ships flagged by governments party to such a treaty, began in the early 1600's. It has progressed and developed steadily since. The current iteration is found on the UN Law of the Sea Convention, which became effective in 1994.

Many nations, the US included, have a policy of regular "Freedom of Navigation" operations through waters necessary and important to international passage of ships. Such examples include the Straits of Gibraltar, Hormuz and Malacca. The Bosporus Strait and the Black Sea is a good example which also has international limitations on types of warships and is administered by Turkey.

The passage forming during summer months over the top of North America will see many sovereign claims being asserted, as well as vigorous Freedom of Navigation operations as this "new" passage, and its resources, become more important.

So, Freedom of Navigation has a very long history of diplomacy.

[Nihil]

5. Does the Pentagon ever see a fire somewhere around the world ...

... that they *don't* try to drown in petrol?