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Less likely about Trump, and more likely about the 'freedom of navigation' exercises the U.S. has been conducting in the same general area - something which the
by jsnathan 10y ago
Less likely about Trump, and more likely about the 'freedom of navigation' exercises the U.S. has been conducting in the same general area - something which these sailors would be acutely aware of, and which they may well feel the desire to 'shove-back' on. Not to say it can't be both.
- whybroke 10y agoDirect theft of hardware, however, is distinct escalation. The US's 'freedom of navigation' exercises have going on for quite some time.
- anigbrowl 10y agoI really doubt that such on-the-spot adventurism is tolerated in the Chinese Navy. against a commercial ship this could be plausible but against a navy vessel belonging to another country? If you were the captain of a Chinese Navy ship, would you want to be summoned to Beijing to explain why President Xi had unexpectedly received a nastygram from Washington? Perhaps you are right and I'm misinterpreting early versions of the story, but my impression is that the Chinese military values conformity and command structures rather than spontaneity and initiative. Centralization and respect for hierarchy are hallmarks of Chinese culture.