The looming military showdown in the South China Sea: Gertz

[unhappycamper]

http://atimes.com/2015/10/the-looming-military-showdown-in-the-south-china-sea-gertz/

The looming military showdown in the South China Sea: Gertz
By Bill Gertz on October 19, 2015

After delaying for months, the Obama administration has authorized the US Pacific Command to send warships into the disputed South China Sea, and China is threatening to confront the naval presence as part of an aggressive buildup in the region.
USS Ronald Reagan

However, the US military is not expected to send the aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan and its strike group to pass passing within 12 miles of any disputed islands that China is claiming as its territory. The carrier arrived at its new homeport of Yokosuka, Japan on Oct. 1 replacing the USS George Washington.

Instead of a carrier group, the administration is likely to send one of its new, lightly-armed Littoral Combat Ships on what the military calls FON, for freedom of navigation, operation, in the next two weeks.

The lack of large and muscular American warship presence for the much-anticipated exercise is likely to send the wrong signal to China, and to regional states are looking to the United States for support against China’s expansive and legally-questionable maritime claims.

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I'm sure that 57mm popgun on the front of an LCS will scare the Chinese.