by James Stavridis (Bloomberg) A Defense Department report warns that China’s military buildup is reaching the point where it can attempt to “impose its will on the region and beyond.” Visiting recently with senior officials from two U.S. allies in the region, Japan and Singapore, gave me a visceral feeling of how things look on the ground (and at sea). “We are deeply … [Read more...]
Royal Navy Warship Upsets China
by Andy MacAskill (Reuters) - Britain on Thursday admitted that talk by its defense minister of deploying a warship in the Pacific had complicated the delicate relationship with China. When asked directly on BBC radio if the relationship had been damaged by Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson’s threat to deploy a new aircraft carrier to the Pacific, finance minister Philip … [Read more...]
Photos Show Confrontation Between USS Decatur and a Chinese Navy Warship in South China Sea
gCaptain has just obtained photos showing a confrontation involving the U.S. Navy destroyer USS Decatur and a Chinese Navy warship in the disputed South China Sea over the weekend. The U.S. Navy confirmed the incident on Tuesday, accusing China’s navy of conducting an “unsafe and unprofessional maneuver” that nearly led to a collision as the U.S. destroyer was underway … [Read more...]
Japanese Carrier Drills with British Warship Heading to Contested South China Sea
By Tim Kelly ABOARD THE KAGA, Indian Ocean, Sept 27 (Reuters) - Japan's biggest warship, the Kaga helicopter carrier, joined naval drills with Britain's HMS Argyll in the Indian Ocean on Wednesday as the frigate headed toward the contested South China Sea and East Asia. Britain, Japan and close ally the United States have found common cause in countering growing Chinese … [Read more...]
China’s State Firms Cementing Lucrative Role in South China Sea, New Research Shows
By Greg Torode and Brenda Goh HONG KONG/SHANGHAI, Aug 9 (Reuters) - Beijing's giant state-owned enterprises are playing an increasing role in China's build-up in the South China Sea and could seek to cement their dominant position in coming years, according to new research. The work by academic Xue Gong and published by Singapore's ISEAS Yusof Ishak Institute this week … [Read more...]