U.S. Bulks Up Coast Guard in Pacific to Counter China's Fleet

[rangerrebew]

U.S. Bulks Up Coast Guard in Pacific to Counter China's Fleet
By Philip Heijmans
June 10, 2019, 11:22 PM EDT Updated on June 11, 2019, 1:22 AM EDT

    Cutters to assist with fishing disputes, says vice admiral
    Says return to disputed seas consistent with past deployments


The U.S. Coast Guard is touting increased operations in the Western Pacific, thousands of miles from American shores, as China’s coast guard and civilian fishing militias increasingly assert the country’s territorial claims.

A presence in the South China Sea and elsewhere will help enforce the sovereignty of partner nations in the disputed waters, U.S. Coast Guard Pacific Area Commander Vice Admiral Linda Fagan told a conference call. Coast Guard cutters USCGC Bertholf and USCGC Stratton are being deployed with the Seventh Fleet based in Yokosuka, Japan.

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-06-11/u-s-coast-guard-bolsters-presence-in-south-china-sea?utm_source=RC%20Defense%20Morning%20Recon&utm_campaign=5904a1d928-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2019_06_10_06_40&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_694f73a8dc-5904a1d928-81835773

[sneakypete]

Looks like a sure-fire plan to get a bunch of Coasties killed and a shooting war started,to me. USCG cutters are NOT warships and are NOT equipped to fight naval battles with actual combat ships,and if you insist on making them operate past their capabilities,sooner or later some Chinese warship IS going to open fire on them because they know they can sink the Coasties with no real threat to themselves.

This was clearly a decision made by some political appointee with no military experience or knowledge whatsoever.

The way you counter situations like this is by showing up carrying superior firepower from Minute One,NOT by tempting fate.

"Peace through superior firepower" may be an old slogan,but it is as true today as it ever was.

[GtHawk]

Looks like a sure-fire plan to get a bunch of Coasties killed and a shooting war started,to me. USCG cutters are NOT warships and are NOT equipped to fight naval battles with actual combat ships,and if you insist on making them operate past their capabilities,sooner or later some Chinese warship IS going to open fire on them because they know they can sink the Coasties with no real threat to themselves.

This was clearly a decision made by some political appointee with no military experience or knowledge whatsoever.

The way you counter situations like this is by showing up carrying superior firepower from Minute One,NOT by tempting fate.

"Peace through superior firepower" may be an old slogan,but it is as true today as it ever was.