What are China’s intentions in the South China Sea? It’s a question intelligence analysts, diplomats and the senior leadership of the United States and its Pacific allies are all asking in the wake of a range of increasingly belligerent and threatening comments and actions by the rising global power.
China has gone some ways to obtaining by force a mere closum (closed sea) in the waters off Southeast Asia without meeting any real resistance to date. The 11 July verdict of the Permanent Court of Arbitration at the Hague may have crimped Beijing’s plans but it has not weakened its resolve.
The United States discarded its oft-misunderstood “two war” doctrine, intended as a template for providing the means to fight two regional wars simultaneously, late last decade.
“An information technology-based war at sea is sudden, cruel and short…” was how the Chinese military characterized a peer-to-peer naval conflict at sea in a public statement at the beginning of the month during PLAN naval exercises.
Cambodia’s Prime Minister Hun Sen, recently condemned US policy for destabilising the Middle East. The Phnom Penh Post in an article titled, “US policy destabilised Middle East, says Hun Sen,” would report that:
‘An information technology-based war at sea is sudden, cruel and short…’ was how the Chinese military characterised a peer-to-peer naval conflict at sea in a public statement at the beginning of the month during PLAN naval exercises.
Duterte won't raise territorial row at ASEAN Summit; Singapore must choose its own place to stand on South China Sea issue; Indonesia actively involved in resolving South China Sea disputes...
-(Aspistrategist 24/08) Electronic warfare in the South China Sea: China’s radars on artificial islands might allow the PLA to conduct active jamming of other electronic sensors and radars in the region -(Breakingdefense 23/08) Chinese Threaten Japan, Australia Over South China Sea; Time For US FON Ops?: “If Australia steps into the South China Sea waters, it will be an ideal target for China to...
The Permanent Court of Arbitration ruled in favor of the Philippines in its case against China regarding the South China Sea disputes.
Tensions have been rising between China and the United States. China is modernizing its military and pressing its sovereignty claims over the disputed South China Sea, an important route for global trade. The U.S. is pushing back by increasing its military presence in Asia, which China views as provocative.