User Panel
User Panel
User Panel
|
Posted: 7/27/2024 1:19:21 PM EDT
[#1]
Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By CarmelBytheSea: https://www.reuters.com/world/china/chinas-foreign-minister-warns-philippines-over-us-missile-deployment-2024-07-27/ Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By CarmelBytheSea: https://www.reuters.com/world/china/chinas-foreign-minister-warns-philippines-over-us-missile-deployment-2024-07-27/ In this report, there's no response to a question asked by a Reuters employee. I guess Reuters now does press releases for the PRCs Foreign Ministry. The one point of interest is that Reuters perfectly captures the "implied threat" of the CCP to the Phillippines without questioning it. The second point is as we covered previously, the missile system had already been returned to the US custody last month. Don't every change, Reuters! BEIJING, July 27 (Reuters) - Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi has warned the Philippines over the U.S. intermediate-range missile deployment, saying such a move could fuel regional tensions and spark an arms race. The United States deployed its Typhon missile system to the Philippines as part of joint military drills earlier this year. It was not fired during the exercises, a Philippine military official later said, without giving details on how long it would stay in the country. China-Philippines relations are now at a crossroads and dialogue and consultation are the right way, Wang told the Philippine Foreign Secretary Enrique Manalo on Friday during a meeting in Vientiane, the capital of Laos where top diplomats of world powers have gathered ahead of two summits. Wang said relations between the countries are facing challenges because the Philippines has "repeatedly violated the consensus of both sides and its own commitments", according to a Chinese foreign ministry statement.  Attached FileWelp, I guess it's the MCS Typhoon system For the Win! "If the Philippines introduces the U.S. intermediate-range missile system, it will create tension and confrontation in the region and trigger an arms race, which is completely not in line with the interests and wishes of the Filipino people," Wang said. And here's one that's even funnier: The Philippines' military and its foreign ministry did not immediately respond to requests for comment on Wang's remarks. The other point to make is here's how the Reuters' article describes this even in their third paragraph: China-Philippines relations are now at a crossroads and dialogue and consultation are the right way, Wang told the Philippine Foreign Secretary Enrique Manalo on Friday during a meeting in Vientiane, the capital of Laos where top diplomats of world powers have gathered ahead of two summits. And I bring this up just not because it's a mistake, but because news media throughout the World acts as activists and advocators of governments. Reuters makes MSNBC look professional. Somehow a verifiable fact slipped through their nonsense: China and the Philippines are locked in a confrontation in the South China Sea and their encounters have grown more tense as Beijing presses its claims to disputed shoals in waters within Manila's its exclusive economic zone. And finally, the denouement: Wang said China has recently reached a temporary arrangement with the Philippines on the transportation and replenishment of humanitarian supplies to Ren'ai Jiao in order to maintain the stability of the maritime situation, referring to the Second Thomas Shoal. Philippine vessels on Saturday successfully completed their latest mission to the shoal unimpeded, its foreign ministry said in a statement. Here's another story from Reuters covering the resupply mission: China, Philippines agree on 'provisional arrangement' for South China Sea resupply missions, Manila says Cutting to the chase, it was resupplied without incident. The last attempt was way over the top even by CCP standards for something that was outside of the PRC's borders. As always, they needed to "save face" and used this foreign minister pre-meeting to control the narrative with Reuters help. (PRC mouth-pieces had already done it, but they really mostly preach to the choir.) Some details from the middle portion of the story: Philippine security officials also said on Sunday they will carry out the resupply missions on their own despite an offer from the United States for help. White House National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said on Friday the U.S. "will do what is necessary" to ensure its treaty ally can resupply the Sierra Madre on the Second Thomas Shoal. Sullivan's Filipino counterpart, Eduardo Ano, said the resupply will remain "a pure Philippine operation". "There is no need at this time for any direct involvement of U.S. forces in RORE (resupply) mission," Ano said in a statement. Reuters previously reported that the Philippines turned down offers from the U.S. to assist its operations in the South China Sea. Tensions in the disputed waterway have boiled over into violence in the past year, with a Filipino soldier losing a finger last month in a clash that Manila described as an "intentional-high speed ramming" by the China Coast Guard. The Philippine military's spokesperson said in a separate statement on Sunday the Philippines "will exhaust all means before seeking foreign intervention" in its resupply missions. |
|
|
|
|
Posted: 7/27/2024 1:36:00 PM EDT
[#2]
Quote HistoryQuote HistoryRelations between China and Japan are at a critical stage, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi told his Japanese counterpart on Friday as the pair discussed thorny issues including Japanese nationals detained in China, food import bans and semiconductor curbs. Wang met Japan's Yoko Kamikawa on the sidelines of a gathering of foreign ministers hosted by the Southeast Asian bloc ASEAN in Laos, ahead of Saturday's East Asia Summit and the security-focused ASEAN Regional Forum. Second, we learn immediately Wang Yi is the Chinese Foreign Minister. It's in red. As for the other side of this equation, there's no real title associated with this person at all, and in the next paragraph, we learn this person has a name: Yoko Kamikawa, but she has no title. "counterpart" is not a title. It's a description. We are to assume that since it's a "foreign ministers' meeting", she might be the Japanese Foreign Minister. Wang gets a quote issuing a threat to Japan: "China-Japan relations are currently at a critical point: advance or be left behind," Wang told Kamikawa, according to a readout of the talks issued by the Chinese foreign ministry. When Yoko Kamikawa is finally quoted, it's this: "It is extremely important to create an environment in which Japanese nationals and Japanese companies can operate in China with peace of mind," Kamikawa told Wang, according to a readout issued by Japan's foreign ministry. |
|
|
|
|
Posted: 7/27/2024 1:43:09 PM EDT
[#3]
Quote HistoryQuote HistoryThe top diplomats of China and the US sparred on Saturday over the South China Sea, where Beijing is locked in a territorial dispute with US treaty ally the Philippines. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi met on the sidelines of a foreign ministers meeting of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in Laos. The US hailed the meeting as "open and productive," after Blinken had criticised Beijing's "escalatory and unlawful actions" in the South China Sea. The US should "refrain from fanning the flames, stirring up trouble and undermining stability at sea," Wang said at the meeting, according to a foreign ministry statement. "The risks and challenges facing China-US relations are still rising," he said. Blinken also raised "US concerns about provocative actions" by China, including a simulated blockade of Taiwan following the May inauguration of President Lai Ching-te. China claims the democratic island as its territory and slammed Lai's inauguration speech as "confession of independence." |
|
|
|
|
Posted: 7/27/2024 2:27:05 PM EDT
[#4]
Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By CarmelBytheSea: https://www.reuters.com/world/china/chinas-foreign-minister-warns-philippines-over-us-missile-deployment-2024-07-27/ I would not be surprised to see China respond with Missile deployments to central and / or South America. |
|
|
|
|
Posted: 7/27/2024 2:33:53 PM EDT
[#5]
Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By Missilegeek: I would not be surprised to see China respond with Missile deployments to central and / or South America. Cuba? |
|
|
|
|
Posted: 7/27/2024 2:36:08 PM EDT
[#6]
Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By zoinks: Next up on Carmel's Hit Parade is another Reuters story, published by CNBC, and it's another story with Bias in the PRC's favor: Apparently, no one could be bothered to ask the Japanese side if they had a response which leaves the impression that the Japanese side had no response therefore making it look like the Japanese had acquiesced to the CCP charge. Second, we learn immediately Wang Yi is the Chinese Foreign Minister. It's in red. As for the other side of this equation, there's no real title associated with this person at all, and in the next paragraph, we learn this person has a name: Yoko Kamikawa, but she has no title. "counterpart" is not a title. It's a description. We are to assume that since it's a "foreign ministers' meeting", she might be the Japanese Foreign Minister. Wang gets a quote issuing a threat to Japan: Again, no response is bothered to be recorded by Reuters. There always is one. When Yoko Kamikawa is finally quoted, it's this: The new Russia-China-Iran thread had some posts from a guy claiming Japan and China are BFFs and it’s just past governments and fake news to the contrary |
|
|
|
|
Posted: 7/27/2024 2:37:31 PM EDT
[#7]
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: 7/27/2024 3:36:13 PM EDT
[#8]
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: 7/27/2024 9:11:37 PM EDT
[#9]
Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By CarmelBytheSea: The new Russia-China-Iran thread had some posts from a guy claiming Japan and China are BFFs and it's just past governments and fake news to the contrary We don't have the "dram law" here, do we? |
|
|
|
|
Posted: 7/27/2024 9:22:12 PM EDT
[#10]
Small Score Card!!! Still due to the weather, no aircraft!
Taiwan tracks 4 Chinese military ships (Not one of them was a Chinese Coast Guard ship!) TAIPEI (Taiwan News) The Ministry of National Defense tracked four Chinese naval vessels between 6 a.m. on Friday (July 26) and the same time Saturday (July 27). No Chinese military planes were spotted and there was no news of People's Liberation Army aircraft operations, according to the defense ministry on X. Typhoon Gaemi's dramatic influence across the Philippines, Taiwan, and China has curtailed many maritime and flying missions. On Friday, Reuters reported the storm was pummelling towns in coastal Fujian province, which faces Taiwan. I bring up the Chinese Coast Guard because of our next story: Freighter sinks with nine crew missing off Taiwan TAIPEI (Taiwan News) Nine Myanmar crew members were missing after the Tanzanian-flagged freighter, the Fu Shun, sank off the coast of Kaohsiung on Thursday (July 25) morning. The Central Emergency Operation Center (CEOC) reported the Fu Shun began listing about 19 nautical miles (35 km) off Kaohsiung around 5:45 a.m. and sank about an hour later. A Taiwanese vessel, the China Steel Sustainability, responded to the CEOC's broadcast to render aid for vessels near the Fun Shun, but was unable to locate the ship or its crew, per PTS News. Rough seas and high winds hampered search and rescue efforts. Authorities said they would monitor weather conditions and deploy rescue teams as soon as possible. The Ministry of Transportation and Communication (MOTC) established an emergency response team to prioritize crew safety and oil spill prevention. The agency reported that five other ships had run aground around Taiwan's coast but were not at risk of leaking fuel and their crews were safe. These vessels included the: Indonesian-flagged Iriana Mongolian-flagged Basia Cameroon-flagged Ginan near Pingtung County Portuguese-flagged Sofia off the coast of Tainan Tanzanian-flagged Xin Li off the coast of Kaoshiung MOTC Minister Li Men-yen ( ) ordered agencies to closely monitor sea conditions and prepare for rescue operations and potential oil spills for the grounded ships. Update 2024/07/25, 20:50 p.m. Two crew members from the sunken Tanzanian freighter Fu Shun were rescued on Thursday (July 25) after they were found by locals on the coast. Another crew member was later found near Fengbitou in Kaohsiung's Seagoing District. Six crew were still missing. And if a Typhoon wasn't enough: Magnitude 5.1 earthquake rattles eastern Taiwan TAIPEI (Taiwan News) A magnitude 5.1 earthquake struck off the coast of Hualien County at 10:24 a.m. on Friday (July 26). According to the Central Weather Administration (CWA), the earthquake's focal depth was 39.7 km with the epicenter located 17.7 km northeast of Hualien County Hall. The maximum intensity recorded in Hualien County was level 4, according to Taiwan's 7-tier scale, per CNA. Yilan and Hsinchu Counties both reported intensities of 3, while New Taipei, Taoyuan, and Taichung recorded intensities of 2. |
|
|
|
|
Posted: 7/27/2024 9:25:14 PM EDT
[#11]
Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By GoldenMead: https://asia.nikkei.com/Politics/Defense/U.S.-to-boost-alliance-with-unified-command-for-its-forces-in-Japan Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By GoldenMead: https://asia.nikkei.com/Politics/Defense/U.S.-to-boost-alliance-with-unified-command-for-its-forces-in-Japan The creation of unified commands by both the U.S. and Japan is seen leading to smoother planning of joint exercises during peacetime and joint missions during conflicts. The U.S. military and the SDF will maintain separate chains of command. In the two-plus-two meeting, the countries are also poised to agree on cyberdefense cooperation. With Japan set to begin engaging in activities that stop cyberattacks before they occur, Tokyo and Washington hope to work together to better protect infrastructure and other assets. Regarding defense equipment, the sides intend to expand cooperation on drones. They are also set to agree on joint production and increasing production capacity for Patriot surface-to-air missile systems and the Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missile (AMRAAM) for F-35 fighter jets. |
|
|
|
|
Posted: 7/28/2024 12:24:47 AM EDT
[#12]
Interesting timing since Carmel mentioned the amphib ships. I guess the US has been paying attention as well because we've apparently found a harbor freight style solution to deal with them......
https://www.yahoo.com/news/us-says-successfully-practiced-using-011421159.html |
|
|
|
|
Posted: 7/28/2024 12:09:01 PM EDT
[#13]
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: 7/28/2024 5:38:21 PM EDT
[Last Edit: zoinks]
[#14]
Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By CarmelBytheSea: https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202407/1316881.shtml Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By CarmelBytheSea: https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202407/1316881.shtml Let me redo the link for the title: China reiterates stance on South China Sea, urging US not to stip up trouble The article is in three parts: Part 1 - bullshit; Part 2 - even more bullshit; Part 3 - China is asshoe. I don't see any real value in covering ground we know (Part 3), so lets concentrate on the "traps" set for people who don't know better in Parts 1 and 2. But FIRST! What's the purpose of these types of Press Releases, and second are they all written by this guy?  Attached FileAnswering the second part first, yes, I really think so. Back to the first part, let me give you guys some insight as to how I look at things because we all have bias we were born with and prejudices we develop and change through out our lives. It's part and parcel of being human. None of us are exempt. We can either 1) recognize it in ourselves and others, or 2) we can only recognize it in others. There's your choice!!! When reading political subject matter, I always compare it to Adolf Hitler's Mein Kampf which is a text book example of being taken by the hand and led to pre-determined conclusions, all of them seemingly logical with just enough emotion to blind you until the end. Also, I ask myself some questions like 1) qui bono? Who's telling me the story and what do they get out of it or from it? 2) In the "facts" vs "supposition/assumption" comparison, what's the ratio of one to the other? Always remembering that a fact is a statement that can be proven true or be proven false* how many "fact" statements are there compared with the number of guesses, assumptions, non-sequitors and filler? And also always remembering, not everyone has all the knowledge of an event to to render a complete retelling of it, plus, we come right back to our biases and prejudices. * The reason for the asterick is because some people believe that a fact is always true. I'm not going to be kind here: that's low level stupid reasoning. For example, Science has but one function, developing and recording "facts" through an experimental manner that can be replicated under the same conditions. Science produces facts. Scientific facts are continually superceded by the latest scientific facts; that's how Science works; that's how Science progresses; unless the DNC\CCP, the Clinton, Obama, Biden, and maybe a possible Harris Administrations are involved. The Choice could not be more stark! A fact is either a statement that can be proven true or proven false, or a fact is always true according in accordance with Authority. We all remember Covid-19 and how Authority issued facts then, and what the facts are now a mere few years later. But, I digress: China reiterates stance on South China Sea, urging US not to stir up trouble The first thing to realize here is that the PRC is not a member of ASEAN. The PRC and ASEAN are in conflict with each other, hence the meetings and the agreements that, in the words of Jame Brown, are "talking loud and saying nothing." During a series of meetings of foreign ministers of Southeast and East Asian countries in Vientiane, Laos, over the past few days, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi reiterated China's consistent stance on the South China Sea issue. Judging from the latest joint communique issued by the ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting, which emphasizes the importance of peace and stability in the South China Sea, the differences among ASEAN countries are gradually narrowing, and consensus is gradually expanding, experts said, noting that this is particularly evident in the shared belief that the situation should not be allowed to escalate in a way that would affect regional security and relations with China. The point of this exercise is that at the end of the ASEAN meeting, everyone signs the Declartion of Conduct (DOC) of Parties in the South China Sea. This is not a "Code of Conduct" which all parties would agree to that would be legally binding with an attachment proscribing penalties and other consequences for violating the COC just like here!!!!! Also, they sign the same DOC every year and have been since about 2002. China also sent strong signals to the US regarding the South China Sea issue and the Indo-Pacific Strategy, urging it to stop inciting trouble, causing disturbances, and undermining maritime stability. The US-led Indo-Pacific Strategy exacerbates security dilemmas and runs counter to the long-term vision of peace and prosperity in the region. Some experts believe the US intends to provoke a proxy war and incite a new Cold War in the Asia-Pacific region, particularly in the South China Sea. ASEAN countries should resist actions that disrupt regional peace and provoke bloc confrontations to ensure peace and stability in the region. Solemn stance There is a full historical and legal basis for China to uphold territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests in the South China Sea, Wang said in elaborating on China's solemn stance on the South China Sea issue on Saturday. With a view of safeguarding neighborhood friendliness and regional cooperation, China signed the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC) with ASEAN countries and has consistently and effectively implemented it, Wang said, adding that China insists on managing differences properly through dialogue and consultation with all parties involved. Ren'ai Jiao is China's inherent territory. The Philippines unilaterally changed the status quo by grounding its warship illegally at Ren'ai Jiao, and even attempted to build it into a permanent outpost, which severely violated Article 5 of the DOC and reneged on its commitments made to the Chinese side, the Chinese official said. Wang also called on the Philippines to honor its commitments, not to break its promises and not to make more trouble. In a joint communique of the 57 ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting released on Saturday, ASEAN countries reaffirmed the need to enhance mutual trust and confidence, exercise self-restraint in the conduct of activities that would complicate or escalate disputes and affect peace and stability of the South China Sea, avoiding actions that may further complicate the situation. Here's some history: First up is the Declaration of Conduct itself: DECLARATION ON THE CONDUCT OF PARTIES IN THE SOUTH CHINA SEA Here's the article 5 the the CCP communique invokes: 5. The Parties undertake to exercise self-restraint in the conduct of activities that would complicate or escalate disputes and affect peace and stability including, among others, refraining from action of inhabiting on the presently uninhabited islands, reefs, shoals, cays, and other features and to handle their differences in a constructive manner.  Attached FileYou'll notice only one party is on the right side. That's the PRC. For more information on ASEAN, this website is about as good as it gets: National Bureau of Reseach - Asian Research The CCP communique mentions the "World Navy Research Center at the National Institute for South China Sea Studies," but I couldn't find it on line. (Search sucked today. I use them all.) It's a Chinese institute as opposed to the American NBR right above. The PRC can't deny, or at least hasn't tried to deny what happened on video tape when the Philippine Sailor lost his thumb, but they are offering this pablum: "It is evident that the South China Sea issue has become a major topic at the ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting. The positions of various parties, which were previously quite divergent, are now increasingly converging. While not completely aligned, there are emerging consensuses between the different sides," Chen Xiangmiao, director of the World Navy Research Center at the National Institute for South China Sea Studies, told the Global Times on Sunday. Chen said the consensuses mainly refer to the agreement that differences should be managed through dialogue. On Saturday, the Philippines sent a civilian ship to deliver daily necessities to its warship grounded at Ren'ai Jiao in accordance with a provisional arrangement reached with China. The China Coast Guard (CCG) supervised the operation throughout, said Gan Yu, a spokesperson for the CCG. China and the Philippines reached an understanding on managing the situation at Ren'ai Jiao, according to the Chinese Foreign Ministry on July 22. Consesuses is a plural of consensus. That really begs the question about whether there was a consensus! The Philippine ship grounded on the Second Thomas Shoal is a derelict LST named the Sierra Madre. I think it's WWII built, so they got that right...in a sense. How does it compare to the shoals, reefs and islets the PRC has "militarized" is also a fair question. The rest of it is sort of babbling in the manner of the "meat head" at the gym talking about how much weight he's lifting and one day he'll "lift the gym." It gets tiring after a while listening, or reading, the non-sense. Let's get to some facts after all that BS. Here's what the UNCLOS is: United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), also called the Law of the Sea Convention or the Law of the Sea Treaty, is an international agreement that establishes a legal framework for all marine and maritime activities. As of May 2023, 168 countries and the European Union are parties. But, and I apologize because I don't remember telling the story of international law came about, but it's pretty interesting. It's actually based on Sharia Law just to blow your little minds. During the Islamic conquests, surrendered nations agreed to Sharia Law to govern their relationships between the other nations. It grew from there. The Age of Reason and Colonialization brought forth more international treaties and other Codes of Conduct in order to reduce the amount of wars occuring (not the scope of them, the quantity), with one of the longest lasting being the "Freedom of the Seas" which is why the USN has 7 Fleets. (This is kind of sounding familar, so apologies!!) The US is not a party to UNCLOS. UNCLOS has taken over as the main structure for several international laws and COCs. Here are the definitions regarding territories: The convention set the limit of various areas, measured from a carefully defined baseline. (Normally, a sea baseline follows the low-water line, but when the coastline is deeply indented, has fringing islands or is highly unstable, straight baselines may be used.) The areas are as follows: Internal waters: Covers all water and waterways on the landward side of the baseline. The coastal state is free to set laws, regulate use, and use any resource. Foreign vessels have no right of passage within internal waters. A vessel in the high seas assumes jurisdiction under the internal laws of its flag state. Territorial sea: Up to 12 nautical miles (22 kilometres; 14 miles) from the baseline, the coastal state is free to set laws, regulate the use, and use any resource; in essence, the coastal State enjoys Sovereign rights and sovereign jurisdiction within its territorial sea. Vessels were given the right of innocent passage through any territorial sea, with strategic straits allowing the passage of military craft as transit passage, in that naval vessels are allowed to maintain postures that would be illegal in the territorial sea. "Innocent passage" is defined by the convention as passing through waters in an expeditious and continuous manner, which is not "prejudicial to the peace, good order or the security" of the coastal state. Fishing, polluting, weapons practice, and spying are not "innocent", and submarines and other underwater vehicles are required to navigate on the surface and to show their flag. Nations can also temporarily suspend innocent passage in specific areas of their territorial sea, if doing so is essential for the protection of their security. Archipelagic waters: The convention set the definition of "Archipelagic States" in Part IV, which also defines how the state can draw its territorial borders. A baseline is drawn between the outermost points of the outermost islands, subject to these points being sufficiently close to one another. All waters inside this baseline are designated "Archipelagic Waters". The state has sovereignty over these waters mostly to the extent it has over internal waters, but subject to existing rights including traditional fishing rights of immediately adjacent states.[17] Foreign vessels have right of innocent passage through archipelagic waters, but archipelagic states may limit innocent passage to designated sea lanes. Contiguous zone: Beyond the 12-nautical-mile (22 km) limit, there is a further 12 nautical miles (22 km) from the territorial sea baseline limit, the contiguous zone. Here a state can continue to enforce laws in four specific areas (customs, taxation, immigration, and pollution) if the infringement started or is about to occur within the state's territory or territorial waters.[18] This makes the contiguous zone a hot pursuit area. Exclusive economic zones (EEZs): These extend 200 nmi (370 km; 230 mi) from the baseline. Within this area, the coastal nation has sole exploitation rights over all natural resources. In casual use, the term may include the territorial sea and even the continental shelf. The EEZs were introduced to halt the increasingly heated clashes over fishing rights, although oil was also becoming important. The success of an offshore oil platform in the Gulf of Mexico in 1947 was soon repeated elsewhere in the world, and by 1970 it was technically feasible to operate in waters 4,000 metres (13,000 ft) deep. Foreign nations have the freedom of navigation and overflight, subject to the regulation of the coastal states. Foreign states may also lay submarine pipes and cables. Continental shelf: The continental shelf is defined as the natural prolongation of the land territory to the continental margin's outer edge, or 200 nautical miles (370 km) from the coastal state's baseline, whichever is greater. A state's continental shelf may exceed 200 nautical miles (370 km) until the natural prolongation ends. However, it may never exceed 350 nmi (650 km; 400 mi) from the baseline; nor may it exceed 100 nmi (190 km; 120 mi) beyond the 2,500 metres (8,200 ft) isobath (the line connecting the depth of 2 500 m). Coastal states have the right to harvest mineral and non-living material in the subsoil of its continental shelf, to the exclusion of others. Coastal states also have exclusive control over living resources "attached" to the continental shelf, but not to creatures living in the water column beyond the exclusive economic zone. The area outside these areas is referred to as the "high seas" or simply "the Area".[19][20] As this post is getting pretty long, here are two articles that give further information on what has happened to ASEAN as soon as the PRC involved itself with them: A South China Sea Code of Conduct Cannot Be Built on a Foundation of Bad Faith There's an obvious reason CoC talks haven't progressed: China isn't interested. ETA: I needed to fix a bunch of little grammatical errors I made because Jenny, I am not a smart man. |
|
|
|
|
Posted: 7/28/2024 5:39:28 PM EDT
[#15]
Wow! ^that is a long post...but I put two pictures in it!!!!!!
Sorry. |
|
|
|
|
Posted: 7/28/2024 5:41:29 PM EDT
[#16]
Score Card!!!!
Taiwan tracks 9 Chinese naval ships around nation TAIPEI (Taiwan News) The Ministry of National Defense (MND) tracked nine Chinese naval ships around Taiwan between 6 a.m. on Saturday (July 27) and 6 a.m. on Sunday (July 28). In response, Taiwan sent naval ships and deployed coastal-based missile systems to monitor the People's Liberation Army (PLA) activity, according to the MND. So far this month, the MND has tracked Chinese military aircraft 521 times and ships 193 times. |
|
|
|
|
Posted: 7/28/2024 6:21:04 PM EDT
[#17]
Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By GoldenMead: https://asia.nikkei.com/Politics/Defense/U.S.-to-boost-alliance-with-unified-command-for-its-forces-in-Japan Gonna put that in my log book, hopefully not spill coffee on this new one |
|
|
|
|
Posted: 7/28/2024 11:31:11 PM EDT
[#18]
Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By CarmelBytheSea: Cuba? Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By CarmelBytheSea: Originally Posted By Missilegeek: I would not be surprised to see China respond with Missile deployments to central and / or South America. Cuba? Or Venezuela, Guatemala, Nicaragua or wherever else they have a bunch of B&R projects and influence. |
|
|
|
|
Posted: 7/29/2024 9:56:34 AM EDT
[Last Edit: Stillnothere]
[#19]
S2 Underground goes super into the Russian/Chinese bomber incursion over Alaska. Dude is a serious intel nerd and I really like his stuff.
 Intel Update - July 27 - Dragon on the Horizon |
|
|
|
|
Posted: 7/30/2024 1:06:16 AM EDT
[#20]
Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By Stillnothere: S2 Underground goes super into the Russian/Chinese bomber incursion over Alaska. Dude is a serious intel nerd and I really like his stuff.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1JSDsxTvNr0Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By Stillnothere: S2 Underground goes super into the Russian/Chinese bomber incursion over Alaska. Dude is a serious intel nerd and I really like his stuff. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1JSDsxTvNr0 I too enjoy his videos. Lots to be learned and his methods are sound!!!But, now I feel like a lazy fuck as I just assumed that the Chinese "Badgers" went to Russia with fuel tanks in the bomb bays and Chinese ground crew already there waiting for the trip to and from. It "smelled" like a familiarization flight and probably the first of many. It's my understanding that the Chinese Badger force flies in an element of 6 aircraft to spread out maximum damage, to cover probability errors in targeting and malfuntioning weapons. I didn't even think about it. In my defense, I was making a big pot of refried beans when I read the news, so that had my attention which is why I need to go and fix all the grammar errors in my post up above. But first...SCORE CARD!!! The Weather Hold is OFF!!! Taiwan tracks 18 Chinese military aircraft, 14 naval ships (That's a lot of ships) TAIPEI (Taiwan News) The Ministry of National Defense (MND) tracked 18 Chinese military aircraft and 14 naval ships around Taiwan between 6 a.m. on Sunday (July 28) and 6 a.m. on Monday (July 29). Of the 18 People's Liberation Army (PLA) aircraft, 13 crossed the Taiwan Strait median line in the northern, central, southwestern, and eastern air defense identification zone (ADIZ), according to the MND.  Attached FileSo far this month, the MND has tracked Chinese military aircraft 539 times and ships 207 times. |
|
|
|
|
Posted: 7/30/2024 2:35:55 AM EDT
[#21]
Apparently the Philippine military was able to resupply their garrison on the Second Thomas Shoal without interference form the Chinese this weekend.
https://www.maritime-executive.com/article/china-lets-philippine-convoy-reach-second-thomas-shoal-without-conflict Over the weekend, the Philippine military was able to carry out a mission to resupply the garrison at Second Thomas Shoal without any significant interference from Chinese forces - the first time in many months that China allowed Philippine vessels to pass unhindered. China has attempted to harass or block every waterborne resupply mission at the shoal since at least 2023, and this year its tactics escalated to include ramming and water-cannoning. It is also the first resupply mission since a violent incident on June 17, when Chinese forces assaulted and confiscated two Philippine Navy RHIBs, injuring eight Philippine servicemembers in the process. On Saturday, on a much less fraught voyage, the contracted supply vessel Lapu-Lapu and the Philippine Coast Guard cutter BRP Cape Engano. According to the Philippine military's western command, nine Chinese vessels followed along with the resupply voyage - including a rare three-vessel task force from the gray-hull PLA Navy, which typically leaves these missions to the China Coast Guard. According to PCG spokesman Jay Tarriela, these vessels "did not undertake any action to disrupt" the supply mission, and kept an appropriate distance. The behavior of the Chinese forces is a departure from recent encounters. The two sides recently reached an agreement to de-escalate tensions in the Spratly Islands, though Beijing and Manila have different interpretations of what concessions the agreement contains - in particular, the degree of control that China may now exert over navigation in Philippine waters. According to Beijing, Chinese forces inspected the convoy's cargo on this mission "on the scene" so that the China Coast Guard could make sure that the Lapu-Lapu was not carrying construction supplies. Tarriela denied that any Chinese boarding or inspection had taken place, and produced video evidence from the voyage. He insisted that "the Philippines did not and will not seek permission from the PRC for such missions." The outpost, a wrecked WWII landing ship called the BRP Sierra Madre, is about 80 years old and is rapidly deteriorating. China insists that the Philippines should not be allowed to bring in materials to make repairs, and demands that the entirety of the structure be removed - even though the outpost is within the Philippine Exclusive Economic Zone. Though China has dredged and covered over seven large reefs in the Spratlys to build a string of military bases, paving thousands of acres of coral atoll, it claims that the wreck of the Sierra Madre poses an unacceptable environmental risk to Second Thomas Shoal. "The BRP Sierra Madre is a commissioned naval vessel and its presence in Ayungin Shoal is well within the Philippines’ sovereign rights and jurisdiction," said Tarriela in a statement. "The Philippines will remain committed to the peaceful settlement of disputes, including through dialogue and consultation, and will honor the understanding on [resupply] missions. We expect China will also adhere to the understanding as negotiated." China claims a wide swathe of the Philippine EEZ under its "nine-dash line" policy, which asserts that Beijing has sovereignty over the international waters of the South China Sea because of a history of Chinese navigation. An international tribunal dismissed these claims in 2016, ruling in favor of the Philippines, but China has ignored the decision. |
|
|
|
|
Posted: 7/30/2024 10:56:01 PM EDT
[#22]
Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By Stillnothere: Apparently the Philippine military was able to resupply their garrison on the Second Thomas Shoal without interference form the Chinese this weekend. https://www.maritime-executive.com/article/china-lets-philippine-convoy-reach-second-thomas-shoal-without-conflict Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By Stillnothere: Apparently the Philippine military was able to resupply their garrison on the Second Thomas Shoal without interference form the Chinese this weekend. https://www.maritime-executive.com/article/china-lets-philippine-convoy-reach-second-thomas-shoal-without-conflict I couldn't find jack on the resupply except for the acknowledgement that it happened posted above. Thank you!!! Speaking of updates, we got 'em here. First up is this blast from the past: Taiwan-China negotiations over fishermen deaths yield consensus And as has been the case for the last three months, there's a difference between the PRC side and whoever else was involved in the negotiation. TAIPEI (Taiwan News) Taiwan and China reached a consensus on Tuesday (July 30) following the deaths of two Chinese fishermen whose boat capsized while the Taiwan Coast Guard was pursuing them off Kinmen in February. The agreement was reached at a meeting in Kinmen, after which the deputy head of Taiwan's Mainland Affairs Council Liang Wen-chieh ( ) told reporters the bodies of the fishermen and their boat will be returned. He did not say if the families would receive compensation from Taiwan. Liang said he and his team had come to pay their respects to the families of the deceased and that a satisfactory outcome for the relatives had been reached during the negotiations. He also commented on an apology made by the Taiwan Coast Guard Administration Deputy Head Hsieh Ching-chin ( ) after the incident. Liang said Hsieh's meaning was to apologize for the Coast Guard's failure to wear body cameras when the deaths occurred, giving rise to disagreement about what happened. Li Zhaohui, deputy director of the Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Macao Affairs Office in Quanzhou, said he hopes "relevant parties in Taiwan" will implement the agreement, though he provided no further details. When we did the last update, we suggested that Taiwan was going to go soft in this meeting in order to get some Taiwanese citizens released after being "rescued" by the Chinese Coast Guard. No surprises here other than the Taiwanese failed to mention all the heroin kilos recovered from the scene. (That didn't happen, but it would've under my Administration.) Next up, this one may be more for me because now I know what a "kill web" is. We did a story maybe last week or the week before where in PRC propaganda conflated a USN Naval Aviation Commander being fired with something about some incident involving a PLAN destroyer, Nanching, with an EA-18G. There was a lot of words, but very little meaning. This is from the Asia Times: China's electronic warfare surge shocks US in South China Sea The first part of the article retells the original SCMP story of the event and without any more details. On the one hand, that wasn't hard. But here's what a kill web is: Aside from developing new tech, China may already have elevated EW into a strategic capability, integrating it into its multi-domain operations alongside other kinetic and non-kinetic capabilities in a complex kill web. Aside from developing new tech, China may already have elevated EW into a strategic capability, integrating it into its multi-domain operations alongside other kinetic and non-kinetic capabilities in a complex kill web. In a May 2023 article for the Mitchell Institute, Heather Penney describes a kill web as multiple, interconnected nodes that offer redundant paths for executing military operations, increasing the quantity and resilience of potential kill chains. A kill chain is the process required to identify and eliminate specific targets. Penney says that unlike linear kill chains, which are easier to target and disrupt, kill webs provide a more adaptable and less predictable system, making it harder for adversaries to defeat. The quote in red, "Aside from developing new tech...", I read and reread this article just to make sure that what I'm going to post is the only possible point in the article: SCMP reported in February 2024 that Chinese scientists have invented a new class of EW equipment that can reportedly rapidly detect, decode and suppress enemy signals. The new system, SCMP says, allows the PLA to seamlessly monitor signals into the gigahertz zone, encompassing frequencies used by amateur radio and even Elon Musk's Starlink satellites. It notes that the equipment includes innovative signal processing chips and AI integration, enhancing China's ability to counter enemy jamming and maintain communication flow. Furthermore, SCMP claims that in encounters with US Navy ships with EW activity, China has used electromagnetic-emitting equipment, including high-power phased array radars, to lock on to multiple targets including US carrier-based aircraft. The part in blue, everybody says that until someone idiot on the net yells, "they're jamming us!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  "The interesting part of the article is at the end where once again, we relearn the cost of "The Peace Dividend": Army Technology reported in May 2024 that the US spent US$5 billion on EW capabilities in 2024, accounting for 45% of global EW spending from 2021-2023, compared to just 14% by Russia and 13% by China. However, Army Technology says that the US' dominant position in the EW market is being challenged, as Russia, China and India's share is projected to increase by the next decade. The report notes that over the past two decades, Russia has exploited alleged US complacency in EW strategies, which have focused on counterinsurgency versus non-state actors. It notes that in Ukraine, Russia has used EW to disrupt adversary battlefield networks, support conventional assault forces through SIGINT and jamming attacks, and secure captured territory against counterattacks. The source also mentions that Russia has used EW to disrupt regional civilian services such as GPS and telecoms. Likewise, Army Technology mentions that China has mirrored Russia's use of EW and has equated information dominance with electromagnetic dominance. It says that in addition to shipborne EW equipment, China has installed such equipment and more in its occupied features in the South China Sea. |
|
|
|
|
Posted: 7/30/2024 11:08:05 PM EDT
[#23]
SCORE CARD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Taiwan tracks 14 Chinese military aircraft, 9 naval ships TAIPEI (Taiwan News) The Ministry of National Defense (MND) tracked 14 Chinese military aircraft and nine naval vessels around Taiwan between 6 a.m. on Monday (July 29) and 6 a.m. on Tuesday (July 30). Of the 14 People's Liberation Army (PLA) aircraft, seven crossed the Taiwan Strait median line in the northern and central sectors of the nation's air defense identification zone (ADIZ), according to the MND.  Attached FileSo far this month, the MND has tracked Chinese military aircraft 553 times and ships 216 times. Next is everybody's favorite!!! A Gabriel Honrada story!!! But one that actually is a bit of news: US scrambling to restock missiles for possible Taiwan war The US Navy's new budget-friendly maritime strike weapon program aims to replenish dangerously depleted stockpiles of long-range strike munitions in a potential Taiwan conflict by leveraging the production capabilities of crucial allies including Japan and Australia. This month, Breaking Defense reported that the US Navy has initiated a search for industry input on a novel medium-range maritime strike weapon, named the "Coalition Affordable Maritime Strike Weapon System" (CAMS), with plans to commence production by fiscal year 2027. Breaking Defense says the July 16 solicitation highlights a need for an affordable, widely exportable weapon system deployed across multiple domains air, surface and sub-surface. This initiative addresses the diminishing returns many coalition partners face in modernizing and sustaining their mid-range maritime strike capabilities. The Breaking Defense report says CAMS is designed to strike targets at a minimum distance of 140 nautical miles, with adaptability for launch from ships' vertical launch systems (VLS) and aircraft at altitudes up to 40,000 feet. It notes that the US Navy aims to produce a system that costs approximately US$1.5 million per unit, with an industry production capacity of at least 250 rounds annually. Breaking Defense says that while the specific coalition countries interested in CAMS remain undisclosed, the program seeks to leverage international interest and expand munitions production capacity for collective defense use. The Ukraine war has shown that large-scale industrial wars of attrition are here to stay, with the industrial capacity to manufacture and replenish precision-guided munitions (PGM) a key strategic-level decisive factor. This part is important as well: In a January 2023 report for the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) think tank, Seth Jones cautions that the US may face a munitions shortfall in a potential conflict with China, particularly for long-range PGMs. Jones suggests this could hinder the US's ability to sustain a protracted war in the Taiwan Strait. Jones notes that China's rate of acquiring high-end weapons systems is estimated to be five to six times faster than the US, raising concerns about the readiness of the US defense industrial base. He highlights that it can take two years to replace certain missile types, such as the Patriot PAC-2/PAC-3, Tomahawk Block V, Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile (JASSM) and Precision Strike Missile (PSM). Jones mentions that CSIS war games suggest that in a three-week conflict, the US would exhaust over 5,000 long-range missiles, with critical shortages occurring within the first week. |
|
|
|
|
Posted: 7/31/2024 3:06:40 AM EDT
[#24]
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: 7/31/2024 9:34:01 AM EDT
[#25]
Quote HistoryQuote HistoryTitle: China lodges protest with Japan over remarks at meeting with US First and obviously, "China" didn't have a problem with the US saying the remarks as well; the problem is only with Japan. We covered the meetings between the US and Japan over the new military command structure both parties are working towards. This all begs the question, what did Japan say that the China's director-general of Asian affairs at the Chinese foreign ministry, Liu Jinsong, was propelled to "lodge" a complaint against the Japanese. What did the Japanese say? Did they call the Chinese "noodle suckers"? Perhaps "Panda Bear fuckers"? Maybe accusing the Chinese of storing their chopsticks in their rectum? NO! It was this: Click To View SpoilerNow, I've played organized sports since the 6th grade into College, 9 years in the Air Force, and I was married for a number of forgettable years!! I've never heard such language before!!!! I'm shocked. Here's my shocked face:  However, Reuters is there backing up China's claim by not getting a response from the Japanese some of the better news organizations would. They just publish it all verbatim like as if it's true: Liu pointed out that Japan's smear attacks on China contradict its statement on promoting the strategic and mutually beneficial relationship between the two countries. He urged Japan to "stop colluding with certain countries to create confrontation in "small circles", and work with China in the same direction." Get the latest news and expert analysis about the state of the global economy with Reuters Econ World. Sign up here. Don't ever change, Reuters!!!! |
|
|
|
|
Posted: 7/31/2024 11:29:03 AM EDT
[#26]
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: 7/31/2024 4:27:08 PM EDT
[#27]
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: 7/31/2024 5:07:15 PM EDT
[#28]
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: 7/31/2024 11:47:29 PM EDT
[#29]
SCORE CARD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
This month has been huge!!!!! HUGE!!!!!!HUGE!!!!!!!!!!!!! Taiwan tracks 25 Chinese military aircraft, 10 naval ships TAIPEI (Taiwan News) The Ministry of National Defense (MND) tracked 25 Chinese military aircraft and 10 naval vessels around Taiwan between 6 a.m. on Tuesday (July 30) and 6 a.m. on Wednesday (July 31). Of the 25 People's Liberation Army (PLA) aircraft, 20 crossed the Taiwan Strait median line in the country's northern, central, southwestern, and eastern air defense identification zone (ADIZ), according to the MND.  Attached FilePlease notice that all the patterns are "pinching" in towards Taiwan. So far this month, the MND has tracked Chinese military aircraft 578 times and ships 226 times. The PRC can pull back and return to 2023 levels; the PRC can simply attack; the PRC can continue to play like it's 4th down and run a long count hoping that Taiwanese Defense Forces "jump off-sides." The first two are fairly self-evident as to what the response for each scenario would be. The status quo for the first option, and the PRC can continue to simply harass Taiwan and the rest of the Countries in the South China Seas; Second scenario is a generalized war with economic sanctions etc., and the PRC will have to hit the Philippines and Vietnamese navies to keep them out of the South China Seas while they invade Taiwan; for the third scenario, Taiwan seems to be very well disciplined (only a distant observation on my part) and not at all like the Raiders Defensive Line in any of their multiple losing years. After a while, everyone will notice that Taiwan is standing up to the PRC!!!!! They end up looking like England in 1940. What happens when that's the accepted narrative???? |
|
|
|
|
Posted: 8/1/2024 12:01:35 AM EDT
[#30]
The propaganda is flying fast!!! Damn near everyday is Friday!!!!!!
Taiwan joins Inter Parliamentary Alliance on China Presidential office thanks coalition for statement on UN Resolution 2758 The PRC started a campaign to get countries to agree that UN Resolution 2758 says that Taiwan is not a country and belong to the PRC. Taiwan is doing an outstanding job of halting that process...much like Churchill in 1940 England!!! Let's make it the narrative!!!! Fuck those guys. TAIPEI (Taiwan News) Taiwan joined the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China (IPAC) on Tuesday (July 30), and the presidential office thanked the coalition for supporting Taiwan's participation in United Nations (UN) agencies. Taiwan joined the coalition with Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Legislator Fan Yun ( ) and Taiwan People's Party (TPP) Legislator Chen Gau-tzu ( ) as co-chairs. Before the IPAC meeting began, the Kuomintang (KMT) said it would not send official representatives to the summit, but its legislators were free to attend if they wished. Presidential Office Spokesperson Lii Wen ( ) thanked IPAC members for traveling to Taipei to support the government's aims. Lii said Taiwan joining IPAC provided an important platform for "legislative diplomacy." Lii said President Lai Ching-te ( ) told IPAC members Taiwan will work with international partners to "hold up the democratic umbrella." Lai said he would work to counter "authoritarian expansion" while promoting peace and prosperity in the world, Lii said. According to the Presidential Office, Lai said the IPAC delegation represented the largest meeting of foreign lawmakers ever in Taiwan, per AP. The 2024 IPAC delegation consisted of lawmakers from 29 countries and the European Parliament. According to information published by CNA, IPAC members will also seek to pass motions in their home parliaments which will state UN Resolution 2758 does not mention the political entity that is the Republic of China (ROC), or address Taiwan's political status. The motion will also deny that the UN resolution gives the People's Republic of China (PRC) sovereignty over the island of Taiwan. UN Resolution 2758 was passed in 1971, which states that the "government of the People's Republic of China are the only lawful representatives of China to the UN." It also gave the UN Security Council's China seat to the PRC, which was held by the ROC before that. The resolution expelled "the representatives of Chiang Kai-shek ( )" from the UN. Chiang was the leader of the ROC (Taiwan) and the KMT when the resolution was passed. And now for dessert! The CCP response is sugary tears: ...China foreign ministry Spokesperson Lin Jian ( ) said IPAC lacks credibility, and is "hellbent on attacking China and spreading lies." Lin also said Lai's administration is using force to pursue Taiwan independence. When a reporter queried that assertion, Lin indicated that it was the ministry's view that Taiwan's foreign weapons purchases were a sign of force. "No matter how they try to beef up 'national defense' and pedal the 'democracy versus authoritarianism' narrative, they will not stop the trend towards China's reunification," Lin said. |
|
|
|
|
Posted: 8/1/2024 12:04:51 AM EDT
[#31]
US senators propose bill to sanction China if it invades Taiwan
Tammy Duckworth and Dan Sullivan first talked about bill in May during congressional delegation visit TAIPEI (Taiwan News) U.S. senators proposed a bill that if China invades Taiwan, comprehensive sanctions be imposed to deter aggression against Taiwan. "Sanctions Targeting Aggressors of Neighboring Democracies (STAND) with Taiwan Act" was co-sponsored by Senator Tammy Duckworth and Senator Dan Sullivan, who are both members of the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee, per CNA. The two senators reportedly first made Taiwanese officials aware of the bill when a U.S. congressional delegation visited in May. The bill, proposed on July 25, would impose comprehensive economic, energy, financial, and other sanctions on China if the People's Liberation Army (PLA) initiates military aggression against Taiwan, according to Sullivan's office. The bill would bar U.S.-based financial institutions from doing business with Chinese Communist Party (CCP) members and Chinese financial institutions, or making any investments "that benefit the CCP." It would also restrict goods imported from China. Taiwan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) thanked the U.S. Congress for its support. Taiwan will pay close attention to the progress of the bill's subsequent review, said MOFA spokesperson Jeff Liu ( ). |
|
|
|
|
Posted: 8/1/2024 12:07:41 AM EDT
[#32]
For History Buffs, here's a really interesting article on the Dutch in the 17th Century and the effect on they had on Taiwan, even though it wasn't called that before.
Hell of a story!!! But it's for History Buffs!! So WARNING - Nerdville ahead: What happened in 1624? The legacy of Dutch rule in Taiwan |
|
|
|
|
Posted: 8/1/2024 10:26:31 AM EDT
[#33]
Quote HistoryQuote HistoryLast week I bookmarked this story, but hadn't had time to post it: US targets Hong Kong chip transshipments to Russia Sanctions talk explodes after report says chips were sent in nearly 800,000 shipments by more than 6,000 companies Here's a couple of quotes to give a sense of what's going on: United States officials, lawmakers and non-profit organizations have called for sanctioning Hong Kong firms and banks after NATO on July 11 condemned Beijing's support of the Russian defense sector. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken plans to make a complaint, during a meeting in Laos with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi, over Russian shipments. He said last week that Russia is importing 70% of its machine tools and 90% of its microelectronics from China. Separately, Republican US Senator Marco Rubio proposed an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act that will grant power to the president to sanction financial institutions that handle transactions related to problematic Russian shipments. Over the past few days, two US news media outlets and an activist group have released their analyses estimating the volume of the transshipments of the common high priority list (CHPL) items via Hong Kong to Russia. On Thursday, the New York Times reported that Russia has obtained about US$4 billion in restricted chips since the country invaded Ukraine in February 2022. It said a cluster of shell companies in Hong Kong helped ship many of these goods to Moscow. It said the figure came from its analysis of Russian customs data since mid- 2021. The newspaper said the chips were sent to Russia in nearly 800,000 shipments by more than 6,000 companies. New York Times staff visited the office of a Hong Kong company, which was allegedly involved in the transshipments, on the seventh floor at 135 Bonham Strand in Central but failed to meet anyone. Between August and December 2023, 206 Hong Kong companies, known as consignors, have shipped US$750 million of CHPL items to Russia, the Committee for Freedom in Hong Kong Foundation (CFHK Foundation), a non-profit organization based in Washington, said in a report on July 22. These items include data receivers, computer processors and controllers, digital storage and input/output units and other integrated circuits. Other items include static converters, amplifiers, memory chips and diodes. They were made by 31 Western firms, including Texas Instruments, Analog Devices, Microchip Technology, Apple, Intel, Dell and Nvidia. Exclusive: New US rule on foreign chip equipment exports to China to exempt some allies NEW YORK, July 31 (Reuters) - President Joe Biden's administration plans to unveil a new rule next month that will expand U.S. powers to stop exports of semiconductor manufacturing equipment from some foreign countries to Chinese chipmakers, two sources familiar with the rule said. But shipments from allies that export key chipmaking equipment - including Japan, the Netherlands and South Korea - will be excluded, limiting the impact of the rule, said the sources who were not authorized to speak to media and declined to be identified. The US will, probably or maybe even, sanction financial companies and import/export brokers, plus anyone else they can figure out in transactions of US made chips and chip sets to the Russians, BUT if chip fabricating equipment that is not already on the Export Administration Regulations (EAR) lists gets a temporary pass if it goes to the PRC as long as it goes through the list of approved countries. US Policy, ladies and gentlemen!! More complex than Physics! |
|
|
|
|
Posted: 8/1/2024 2:22:37 PM EDT
[#34]
The Nation? They’re in on the China .mil news too?
https://nation.africa/kenya/blogs-opinion/blogs/great-wall-of-steel-near-century-rise-of-china-army-4709582 |
|
|
|
|
Posted: 8/1/2024 9:15:48 PM EDT
[#35]
Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By CarmelBytheSea: The Nation? They're in on the China .mil news too? https://nation.africa/kenya/blogs-opinion/blogs/great-wall-of-steel-near-century-rise-of-china-army-4709582  Attached Fileand  Attached FileYou can believe all of this is you discount Korea, Tibet, the USSR, Vietnam, Nepal, current border skirmishes with India. Otherwise, totally true! |
|
|
|
|
Posted: 8/1/2024 9:22:04 PM EDT
[Last Edit: CarmelBytheSea]
[#36]
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: 8/1/2024 9:25:03 PM EDT
[#37]
SCORE CARD!!!!!
Last day of July and first day of August: Taiwan tracks 29 Chinese military aircraft, 10 naval ships around nation TAIPEI (Taiwan News) The Ministry of National Defense (MND) tracked 29 Chinese military aircraft and 10 naval vessels around Taiwan between 6 a.m. on Wednesday (July 31) and 6 a.m. on Thursday. Of the 29 People's Liberation Army (PLA) aircraft, 13 crossed the Taiwan Strait median line in the country's northern, southwestern, and southeastern air defense identification zone (ADIZ), according to the MND.  Attached FileLast month, the MND tracked Chinese military aircraft 607 times and ships 236 times. and for @Lieh-tzu, here's this story: Canada sails warship through Taiwan Strait TAIPEI (Taiwan News) Canada sailed a warship through the Taiwan Strait on Wednesday (July 31), the country's defense ministry said. The HMCS Montreal frigate "recently conducted a routine transit" through the strait, Canada's defense ministry said. Canadian Defense Minister Bill Blair said the sailing was a reaffirmation of Canada's commitment to a "free, open and inclusive" Indo-Pacific, per Reuters. "As outlined in our Indo-Pacific Strategy, Canada is increasing the presence of the Royal Canadian Navy in the Indo-Pacific region," Blair said. Taiwan's defense ministry issued a statement on Thursday (Aug. 1) and said the Canadian frigate sailed north to south through the strait. "During the sailing, the military was in full control of air and sea, and the situation was normal," the statement said. Could be that the Red Sea is taking more of a bite of operational hours from the Navy than anyone would like to admit. Could be that in a show of unified political will, US Allies are showing up more to say the US isn't alone in this. Or, it could be a lack of US Will. I'm not sure. I'd like to think it is the second reason as opposed to the last, but it may be the first reason, and the US is asking allies to help. |
|
|
|
|
Posted: 8/1/2024 10:25:31 PM EDT
[Last Edit: GoldenMead]
[#38]
Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By zoinks: The Europeans or the NATO countries have transited more times than the US this year, and Canada has the same number of Freedom of Navigation operations as the US. I don't know what to make of that. Could be that the Red Sea is taking more of a bite of operational hours from the Navy than anyone would like to admit. Could be that in a show of unified political will, US Allies are showing up more to say the US isn't alone in this. Or, it could be a lack of US Will. I'm not sure. I'd like to think it is the second reason as opposed to the last, but it may be the first reason, and the US is asking allies to help. Combination of all of them. We moved the Roosevelt and her escorts from the Pacific fleet over to CENTCOM. Like you said if our allies do it sends a unified message. We still have enough ships near Taiwan to transit the strait whenever we want, so we should be doing it more often. Honestly our foreign policy is a disaster on epic proportions which requires its own thread. On a different note, Japans economy is a complete dumpster fire and they are having a hard time controlling their currency. China’s economy is just as bad with the reports coming out today that their domestic consumption is worse than what they have been saying. When shit gets bad at home governments tend to come up with a way to make the populace look outward for the source of the problem, instead of having them looking for the real source. Distractions! Look over there it’s them CHARGE!!! Everyday it seems like the world is about to boil over somewhere. |
|
|
|
|
Posted: 8/1/2024 11:27:45 PM EDT
[#39]
Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By zoinks: and for @Lieh-tzu, here's this story: Canada sails warship through Taiwan Strait The Europeans or the NATO countries have transited more times than the US this year, and Canada has the same number of Freedom of Navigation operations as the US. I don't know what to make of that. Could be that the Red Sea is taking more of a bite of operational hours from the Navy than anyone would like to admit. Could be that in a show of unified political will, US Allies are showing up more to say the US isn't alone in this. Or, it could be a lack of US Will. I'm not sure. I'd like to think it is the second reason as opposed to the last, but it may be the first reason, and the US is asking allies to help. Thanks for the tip! I read a story where somebody said that FONOPs were adversely affecting other USN operations because they take up time & resources. Might have been one of the political appointees like an asst secdef or something from the Biden administration. I think it's a ridiculous statement, because FONOPs by now should be well incorporated into USN vessel deployment plans, since this has been part of US policy for multiple administrations of both parties. I'm very glad that Canada and our Euro allies are participating in Pacific theater operations. I've said in other threads, the US is going to need NATO assistance on China far more than they need us against Russia. Granted, they can't contribute all that much militarily, but with the China situation we need Europe to be fully on board with any sanctions on China that will come up. |
|
|
|
|
Posted: 8/2/2024 4:49:08 PM EDT
[#40]
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: 8/2/2024 7:45:13 PM EDT
[#41]
This will speed things up
Sign loyalty pledge or death penalty now in effect fir Taiwanese outside Taiwan https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/east-asia/taiwan-says-macau-s-one-china-demand-blocks-envoy-s-visa  
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: 8/2/2024 11:11:08 PM EDT
[#42]
Originally Posted By CarmelBytheSea: http://eng.chinamil.com.cn/OPINIONS_209196/Opinions_209197/16327432.html Originally Posted By CarmelBytheSea: https://asia.nikkei.com/Politics/International-relations/Indo-Pacific/China-on-edge-over-prolonged-U.S.-missile-deployment-in-Asia The first post borders on lunacy!! That's for dessert. Second post is a series of whines from PRC officials because they're the victime here. China on edge over prolonged U.S. missile deployment in Asia WASHINGTON -- China has growing concerns about a land-based U.S. missile launcher in the Philippines that was used in recent military drills, a move Beijing worries could significantly alter the balance of power if deployed on a permanent basis. The Crux of this story is that the PRC is saying this weapon system is too much for them. As we've covered I think on this page (37), a PLAN destroyer defeated an EA-18G Growler in the Electronic Warfare arena thus cause the US Navy to fire the Squadron Commander. YET, this missile is too much, and it hurts the Chinese. China's envoys in Washington have been reaching out to sources for further details on the Typhon missile launcher that was deployed to the northern island of Luzon in the Philippines four months ago as part of a military drill. A Chinese diplomat, speaking on the condition of anonymity, told Nikkei Asia that the rocket launcher's length of stay in the Indo-Pacific, an unusually long period for a drill, has caused unease in Beijing. It was the first time the U.S. deployed ground-based missiles to a foreign country since it withdrew from the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty in August 2019, according to Xiaodon Liang, a senior policy analyst at the Arms Control Association. It is also unclear where the Typhon missile launcher will be deployed next after Exercise Salaknib 24 in Luzon. At a recent "two-plus-two" meeting of foreign and defense ministers of the U.S. and Japan, the sides agreed to increase "bilateral presence" in Japan's Southwest Islands. This has raised concerns that the midrange missiles may be deployed in Japan too, another Chinese defense official said. Now, we can get to the real reason: Washington and Beijing have sought to stabilize ties after U.S. President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping met in November at the Filoli Estate in San Francisco. The deployment of the missiles to the Philippines goes against what the two leaders discussed, the defense official said. "It's like bringing a dagger to a lunch in which you are supposed to talk about improving relations." Liu Pengyu, the Chinese Embassy in Washington spokesperson, told Nikkei, "China strongly opposes the U.S. deploying medium-range ballistic missiles in the Asia-Pacific to seek unilateral military advantage" and urged the Philippines to "quickly pull out the missile system as publicly pledged." By letting the U.S. deploy the missile system on Philippine soil, "the Philippines is enabling a country outside the region to fuel tensions and antagonism in this region, and incite geopolitical confrontation and arms race," he added. Now for that first story!!!!!!! I'm going to recommend you urinate first, so you don't pee your pants!! Japan eager to rope in Pacific island countries Now, we have the National Lampoon version of what the Chinese really think: Japanese media reported that the Tenth Pacific Islands Leaders Meeting (PALM10) hosted by the Japanese government concluded in Tokyo on July 18. During the meeting, Japan forced its strategic will upon the Pacific island states, revealing its attempt to use them as a tool for its own interests. The meeting displayed three distinct features. First, Japan attaches great importance to it. Japan doesn't often have the opportunity to host a meeting like this. Therefore, before its opening, Tokyo had ways of consultations to steer the meeting, including its direction and topics, to its own benefit. In March, for instance, Japanese Defense Minister Kihara Minoru held a meeting with his Pacific island counterparts in Tokyo with the aim of enhancing their security cooperation. Japanese Foreign Minister Kamikawa Yoko also visited Pacific island countries like Samoa and Fiji in February. Analysts said as the meeting put the major-country game and military security on the table for the first time, it is well beyond the boundary of regional meetings, and the expanded topics revealed Japan's strategic ambitions. It is coaxing Pacific island countries to endorse the so-called safety of its nuclear-contaminated water. The Pacific island countries are highly concerned about nuclear pollution owing to their ecological fragility and high reliance on ocean fishery and have expressed their strong doubts about the so-called scientific data on Japan's discharge of nuclear-contaminated water. Japan offered a "luxury package" of assistance at the meeting and made commitments to climate response and disaster prevention and relief in hopes of obtaining the understanding of Pacific island countries for its discharge of the nuclear-contaminated water and consequently mitigating criticism from the international community. It is pushing for regular military access. In Japan's eyes, the Pacific island countries are not only important trading partners but also key areas for promoting its so-called Indo-Pacific vision. Japan wants to bring them into its alliance with the US to achieve regular military access to the region. In fact, it already dispatched Mobile Cooperation Team (MCT) to the Marshall Islands and the Federated States of Micronesia in January for search and rescue exercises on the sea, with a view to reinforcing the Japan Coast Guard's operability in the Pacific. It is leveraging the meeting to enhance its international influence. By holding regular meetings with Pacific island leaders, Japan tries to maintain extensive and enduring relations with them and gradually filter into their political and security affairs through the provision of assistance, so as to secure them as a stable power behind Japan's expansion of international influence. Let's substitute "Japan" with "China" and see if it still makes sense: It is leveraging the meeting to enhance its international influence. By holding regular meetings with Pacific island leaders, China tries to maintain extensive and enduring relations with them and gradually filter into their political and security affairs through the provision of assistance, so as to secure them as a stable power behind China's expansion of international influence. |
|
|
|
|
Posted: 8/2/2024 11:14:09 PM EDT
[#43]
Score Card!!! First full day of August, and let's see what we got:
Taiwan tracks 17 Chinese military aircraft, 11 naval ships around nation TAIPEI (Taiwan News) The Ministry of National Defense (MND) tracked 17 Chinese military aircraft and 11 naval vessels around Taiwan between 6 a.m. on Thursday (Aug. 1) and 6 a.m. on Friday. Of the 17 People's Liberation Army (PLA) aircraft, 14 crossed the Taiwan Strait median line in the northern and southwestern sectors of the country's air defense identification zone (ADIZ), according to the MND.  Attached FileThis is flight tracker is even more of a less agressive than yesterday's flights as compared to three days ago. 17 aircraft and 11 naval ships |
|
|
|
|
Posted: 8/2/2024 11:18:22 PM EDT
[#44]
We have a partial update on the man named "Hu" who was taken into custody by the Chinese Coast Guard after he and someone identified as "Wu" from the same Taiwanese village.
After the Kinmen speed boat overturning incident, we've been expecting Hu's return. It's getting closer, hopefully. Taiwan angler held by China expected home next week TAIPEI (Taiwan News) The former Taiwan military officer held in China for more than four months after a fishing trip mistakenly veered into Chinese waters is expected to return home next week, reports said Friday (Aug. 2). The angler named Hu ( ), 25, went fishing near Kinmen on March 17 with another man, Wu ( ), 40, but as fog closed in, their boat strayed into Chinese waters and they were detained by China's coast guard. While Wu was allowed to return to Kinmen almost a week later, Hu was forced to stay as Beijing accused him of hiding his identity as an active-duty officer. Kuomintang (KMT) Legislator Chen Yu-jen ( ), who represents Kinmen at the Legislative Yuan, said Thursday she would travel to China with Hu's relatives on Aug. 7 and accompany him back home, per CNA. The news came after Taiwan and China reached an agreement Tuesday about another incident near Kinmen, where two Chinese fishers died during a chase by Taiwan Coast Guard Administration vessels in February. The Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) expressed approval for Hu's imminent return and welcomed China taking action, Radio Taiwan International reported. Chen said that after the two countries settled the other incident on Tuesday, she contacted China and asked them to allow Hu to return home. During earlier negotiations, the military discharged Hu to try and help speed up his release. |
|
|
|
|
Posted: 8/3/2024 12:05:32 AM EDT
[#45]
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: 8/3/2024 3:29:26 PM EDT
[#46]
Score Card time!!!!
Taiwan tracks 18 Chinese military aircraft and 13 naval ships TAIPEI (Taiwan News) The Ministry of National Defense tracked 18 Chinese military aircraft and 13 naval vessels around Taiwan between 6 a.m. on Friday (Aug 2) and the same time on Saturday. Of the 18 People's Liberation Army (PLA) aircraft, 13 crossed the Taiwan Strait median line in the southwestern and eastern sectors of the country's air defense identification zone (ADIZ), according to the defense ministry on X. If we add up yesterday's and today's numbers we have a total of 35 aircraft and 24 naval vessels for the first two days of August. I did go to X.com where the MND did post the flight tracker:  Attached FileThe resolution is lower, but at least we got it! This is a variation of the pattern of the last 4 days. I'm going to go out on a limb here and suggest that the areas demarcated by red lines indirectly suggest the amount of traffic within those areas. We have no idea how many aircraft fly together, in what type of formation that might be, or their relative speeds. The "elbow" in the South West could be a two-ship flight that would need little space to do a 180. Again, just a suggestion as what it all means. |
|
|
|
|
Posted: 8/3/2024 3:36:52 PM EDT
[#47]
Shenanigans at the Paris Olympics regarding "Chinese looking people" removing anything that has the word Taiwan on it from "Chinese looking people."
Student's 'Go Taiwan' poster snatched during Olympic match TAIPEI (Taiwan News) Student Yang Chih-yun ( ) had her "Go Taiwan" poster stolen from her by an unidentified Chinese man on Friday (Aug. 2). The snatch happened during the men's badminton doubles semifinals featuring Taiwan duo Lee Yang ( ) and Wang Chi-lin ( ) at the Paris Olympics, per CNA. Yang, a student studying abroad in France, was standing and cheering for the pair when a man in a pink shirt stole the poster from her. "There is no Taiwan flag on this poster, so it is not banned. Security didn't clearly state what was not allowed," Yang said, per Liberty Times. "This incident has shown the world that such things happen to Taiwan at sports events, right before our eyes."  Attached FileYang added that this was not just about the flag but an act of aggression and she hoped the organizers would handle the situation appropriately. The student also said when she was saying "Go Taiwan" the man kept shouting "Chinese Taipei" back at her. Taiwan foreign minister calls for safety at Paris Olympics badminton finals TAIPEI (Taiwan News) Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung ( ) called on France to take adequate steps to protect the public during the badminton men's doubles finals at the Paris Olympics Sunday (Aug. 4). The call on his Facebook page followed incidents Friday (Aug. 2) when a Chinese man snatched a sign in the shape of a Taiwan map with the words "Go Taiwan" in Chinese characters from a Taiwanese fan, and security staff took away a towel with the word "Taiwan." The country's flag has been banned from Olympic venues due to Chinese pressure, but neither of the items taken away from fans Friday showed a flag. As the incidents happened at a match with badminton champions Lee Yang ( ) and Wang Chi-lin ( ), there reportedly was concern about their clash with China's Liang Weikeng and Wang Chang scheduled for Sunday. The match will decide who wins the gold and silver, with Lee and Wang trying for a second consecutive Olympic gold following their victory at the Tokyo Olympics. The foreign minister said he had told Taiwan's representative office in Paris to pay close attention to developments. He also called on the French authorities to protect the safety of fans at Sunday's finals, per CNA. The Olympics were the place where athletes displayed the results of years of training, Lin said. In addition, fans and supporters also needed to show respect for each other in the spirit of the Olympics, he concluded.  Attached FileNext best thing since there aren't too many Israelis in attendance. Same as it ever was. |
|
|
|
|
Posted: 8/4/2024 1:15:53 AM EDT
[#48]
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: 8/4/2024 1:25:56 AM EDT
[#49]
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: 8/4/2024 11:29:20 AM EDT
[#50]
|
|
|
|
Win a FREE Membership!
Sign up for the ARFCOM weekly newsletter and be entered to win a free ARFCOM membership. One new winner* is announced every week!
You will receive an email every Friday morning featuring the latest chatter from the hottest topics, breaking news surrounding legislation, as well as exclusive deals only available to ARFCOM email subscribers.
AR15.COM is the world's largest firearm community and is a gathering place for firearm enthusiasts of all types.
From hunters and military members, to competition shooters and general firearm enthusiasts, we welcome anyone who values and respects the way of the firearm.
Subscribe to our monthly Newsletter to receive firearm news, product discounts from your favorite Industry Partners, and more.
Copyright © 1996-2024 AR15.COM LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Any use of this content without express written consent is prohibited.
AR15.Com reserves the right to overwrite or replace any affiliate, commercial, or monetizable links, posted by users, with our own.
