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What happens in Nevada is a domestic matter. Other countries don't care about it, and the US government can plausibly claim it has a legal basis for its actions

What happens in Nevada is a domestic matter. Other countries don't care about it, and the US government can plausibly claim it has a legal basis for its actions. There are no such things as "unauthorized" flybys in international waters. There are no laws or international customs against approaching foreign warships, as long as that does not endanger the ship. How the warship chooses to respond is a matter of foreign policy and best left to civilians. Escalation often leads to further escalation. There is a similar situation in the South China Sea, where China claims sovereignty over some areas. The US disagrees and frequently patrols the area. If the US shoots down a Chinese drone in international waters, China may consider that shooting at an American plane or a warship there would be a proportional response. That could turn very bad very quickly. Unless the US deliberately wants to escalate, it may be a better policy to ignore Chinese provocations with drones.

gorgoiler 4y ago
Killing someone, in exchange for shooting down a robot, would be an escalation not a proportionate response.
- jltsiren 4y ago
  You are looking at this from the American perspective, when you should look at it from the Chinese perspective. Killing someone who is trying to invade territory you claim sovereignty over is a justified response. China does not do that at the moment, and not because they don't think it would be justified but because they don't think it would be a smart move. If the US starts shooting at your assets in situations they consider justified, a proportional response would be shooting at their assets in situations you consider justified. Due to different perspectives, a proportional response may turn into escalation. A similar situation is developing in Ukraine. Russia is seriously considering annexing the territory it has managed to conquer. If Ukraine later gains the upper hand and tries to take lost territory back, it would be invading Russia from the Russian perspective. That, according to their doctrine, would allow a nuclear response, which might be enough to deter Ukraine.
ncmncm 4y ago
The USS Cole would like a word with you. Nowadays the boat would be remote-controlled instead of martyr-controlled.

gorgoiler 4y ago

Killing someone, in exchange for shooting down a robot, would be an escalation not a proportionate response.

jltsiren 4y ago
You are looking at this from the American perspective, when you should look at it from the Chinese perspective. Killing someone who is trying to invade territory you claim sovereignty over is a justified response. China does not do that at the moment, and not because they don't think it would be justified but because they don't think it would be a smart move. If the US starts shooting at your assets in situations they consider justified, a proportional response would be shooting at their assets in situations you consider justified. Due to different perspectives, a proportional response may turn into escalation. A similar situation is developing in Ukraine. Russia is seriously considering annexing the territory it has managed to conquer. If Ukraine later gains the upper hand and tries to take lost territory back, it would be invading Russia from the Russian perspective. That, according to their doctrine, would allow a nuclear response, which might be enough to deter Ukraine.

ncmncm 4y ago

The USS Cole would like a word with you. Nowadays the boat would be remote-controlled instead of martyr-controlled.