Down to the sea in ships

[zeitghost]

And this time they're not made out of stone:

BBC News - Hu Jintao tells China navy: Prepare for warfare

The lines on that map are rather interesting.

[TimberWolf]

And this time they're not made out of stone:

BBC News - Hu Jintao tells China navy: Prepare for warfare

The lines on that map are rather interesting.

The red one looks particularly greedy and like a big bully.

[PAH]

So why does China want the disputed islands?

Seems like the Argies and the Falklands. Until the recent oil discovery it made little sense to fight over a scrap of land. Usually the island declares independence or is willing to transfer sovereignty (like Hong Kong) if there really is something to contend, so no real need for war.

Is there oil or other valuable stuff there?

[The Spartan]

I fear it will only get worse, China seem to be ploughing a lot of resources into modernising there Army etc.
It's seems they're in a strong position to do so given there economic clout these days

[PAH]

Looks like they may be eyeing up seizing the disputed territory, now it appears to contain gas and oil.

Clinton: S. China Sea Spats Threaten Asia Peace - Bloomberg

The U.S.’s alliance with the Philippines and naval power in the Asia-Pacific has led to tensions with China, which claims most of the South China Sea as its own. The Philippines and Vietnam have pushed ahead with oil and gas exploration over objections from China, which has used patrol boats to disrupt hydrocarbon surveys in disputed waters.

Chinese ships cut survey cables of Vietnam Oil & Gas Group vessels twice in the past few months and in March chased away a boat working for U.K.-based Forum Energy Plc (FEP) that was surveying the area. A Chinese frigate fired warning shots at Philippine trawlers on Feb. 25.

Meanwhile the yanks say all parties should pursue the dispute through legal means.

They must be miffed they couldn't find any terrorists or WMDs in the area to allow them to go in and 'police' it.

[MrMark]

A good time then to slash our own navy, and lose our capability to build/sell naval warships. Still at least we've got the City.

[doodab]

A good time then to slash our own navy, and lose our capability to build/sell naval warships. Still at least we've got the City.

I think the days of Rule Britannia & gunboat diplomacy are over. We are aiming to be more like Switzerland now. This is going to be difficult as we're an island and they share borders with several of the major economies of western Europe. Ho hum.

[Sysman]

I think the days of Rule Britannia & gunboat diplomacy are over. We are aiming to be more like Switzerland now. This is going to be difficult as we're an island and they share borders with several of the major economies of western Europe. Ho hum.

Except Switzerland still has engineering and manufacturing skills.

Though with the currently strong Franc their future is looking a bit precarious, and that's a direct consequence of the problems in the Eurozone.

[doodab]

Except Switzerland still has engineering and manufacturing skills.

Actually so do we. They just aren't very well publicised.

[DimPrawn]

And everytime you buy some tulipe tat like an iPhone you are giving them the money to go to war.

Stop buying Chinese made goods!