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My understanding is that when it comes the US maneuvers in international waters of the South China Sea, the purpose is actually defensive. Part of international
by foerbert 5y ago
My understanding is that when it comes the US maneuvers in international waters of the South China Sea, the purpose is actually defensive. Part of international maritime law determining the owner of waterways includes considerations for actual control of areas.
By navigating international waters against China's wishes, the US is demonstrating to the international community that China does not control access to those waters. This prevents China from making claims that those waters should no longer be international and instead be China's.
So this isn't the US going off to provoke China (or if you still wish to see it so, at least not for no reason). This is the US exercising rights granted by international treaties in order to prevent China from making effectively false claims to those waters under those same treaties.
- mushbino 5y agoIs it purely a coincidence that it's right around the time the US is losing hegemony in that part of the world to China? How would the US react if China sent ships to secure the waters between the US and Mexico.
- zencode 5y agohttps://www.theweek.in/news/world/2021/09/14/china-most-advanced-warship-entered-us-eez-near-alaska.html https://www.theweek.in/news/world/2021/09/14/china-most-adva...
- mushbino 5y agoImagine if China had military base the US: https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/nintchdbpict0002869156331.jpg?crop=0px%2C17px%2C406px%2C270px&resize=1320%2C879 https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/nintchdb...
- AcerbicZero 5y agoLikely we’d find it amusing, as China is mostly incapable of projecting force outside of its immediate region and I shudder to think about the condition of their coastal navy after a cross pacific journey. That said, I believe your point is valid, but the comparison breaks down once you look at the nuance of the situation. If Mexico feels they can get a better deal by partnering with China to do joint fleet ops in the Gulf of Mexico then I’d say the US has done a very poor job of treating its neighbors correctly, and that needs to be reevaluated. It’s the same answer I have for China - Theyre doing a poor job of being a good neighbor to others in the region. A more direct answer is that the US is doing the job on behalf of its traditional allies in the region who have claims over parts of the South China Sea which helps to maintain US soft power in the region.