America Needs a Clear Strategy to Counter China's Expansion in the South China Sea

[TomSea]

America Needs a Clear Strategy to Counter China's Expansion in the South China Sea
by James Amedeo

Twenty-five nations, fifty-two naval vessels, and more than two hundred aircraft and 25,000 personnel participated in the biennial Rim of the Pacific exercise ( RIMPAC). From June 27 to August 2, nations from across the globe, including first-time participants Israel, Vietnam, and Sri Lanka, worked together to be “Capable, Adaptive, Partners.” It is the world’s largest international maritime exercise, and it is coming to a close. By the number of participants , RIMPAC is the second largest military exercise in 2018 only behind the North Atlantic Treaty Organization’s (NATO) Exercise Trident Juncture. This strong multilateral participation marks just how robust American maritime alliances are around the globe.

Yet there was one notable absence from RIMPAC. In late May, Pentagon spokesman Marine Lt. Col. Christopher Logan announced : “As an initial response to China’s continued militarization of the South China Sea we have disinvited the PLA Navy from the 2018 Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) Exercise.” Even though China was disinvited from the exercises, Beijing sent a Type 815 AGI surveillance vessel to survey the proceedings as they have in the 2014 and 2016 exercises.

While the twenty-five participants demonstrate substantial multilateral cooperation, there is an overarching American leitmotif on RIMPAC. The exercises are held off the coast of Hawaii and California, and the United States contributes nearly half of the ships to the mission. The symbolic message of RIMPAC is clear—that collective security under United States leadership is the best way to ensure a “free and open Indo-Pacific.”

Read more at: https://nationalinterest.org/blog/buzz/america-needs-clear-strategy-counter-chinas-expansion-south-china-sea-27542

[Absalom]

In 1853, Commodore Matthew Perry entered Tokyo Harbor at the head of 4
warships w/a mission to open dialogue/trade between Japan and the USA.
More critically, it opened the eyes of a then closed and insular Japan.
In the West, they saw another nation/state of comparable size which
was then the ranking world power.
Reacting immediately, Japan created the second most powerful Navy in the
world, after Great Britain, and became the foremost Asian power, where it
remains to this day.
In contrast, China, a large land mass, has never, ever been a world power!!!
Ruled by Dynastic Emperors for 2,500 years, it's achievements are insignificant.
Militarily, Japan crushed China in two Sino-Japanese Wars and as well, sank the
entire Russian Fleet in the Strait of Tsushima in 1905.
Our strategy to counter any aggressiveness/expansion by China is real simple.
Give Japan a green light!!!
 

[INVAR]

Thanks to Obama and the Democrats, this is essentially an issue where closing the barn door now is a little too late to keep the horse from escaping the stable.