March, 2018 China Conducts Large Naval Drill in South China Sea
https://www.stripes.com/news/pacifi...-fleet-in-south-china-sea-for-drills-1.519108
Satellite imagery captured March 26 revealed what analysts have described as an unusually
large display of Chinese naval warships in the hotly disputed South China Sea. The images,
provided by Planet Labs, show China’s sole aircraft carrier, the Liaoning, sailing in formation
with at least 40 submarines, destroyers, frigates and other ships.
“The South China Sea and East China Sea will be primary battlegrounds,” Song Zhongping,
a military expert and TV commentator, told the state-run Global Times newspaper on Sunday.
“The People’s Liberation Army is committed to be battle-ready through simulated combat training.”
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These naval exercises come nearly four weeks after Chinese President Xi Jinping
formalized his power to govern without term limits and one week after he announced that
his nation was ready to wage “bloody battles” to retain its perceived superpower status.
https://www.thesun.co.uk/news//xi-jinpin5857430g-china-president-super-power/
https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/59123...d-to-wage-bloody-battle-for-world-domination/
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Taiwan scramble fighter jets in response
En route to the South China Sea for the exercises, the Liaoning carrier group sailed from its
home port in northeastern China through the Taiwan Strait. The close proximity of the war-
ships and their accompanying warplanes prompted Taiwan to scramble fighter jets in response.
China has also long maintained it has sovereignty over Taiwan, which broke away
from the mainland after the nation’s long civil war ended in 1949.
China not only continues to claim sovereignty over Taiwan but also claims
the same waters of the South China Sea that Taiwan claims.
The Chinese Defense Ministry said the exercises were “normal and routine”
and that they don’t “target any certain country or party,” but this is dubious.
Jinping, who can rule for life after scrapping presidential term limits, said: "Every inch of
our great motherland absolutely cannot and absolutely will not be separated from China."
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Vietnam also claims parts of the South China Sea.
Its military exercises are intended to send a strong message to that nation as well.
China recently pressured Vietnam to stop oil exploration off its coast.
In early March, the uss Carl Vinson sailed to Vietnam, marking the first time an aircraft
carrier from the United States Navy has visited the country in more than 40 years.
Later that month, the uss Mustin conducted a Freedom of Navigation exercise near one
of China’s artificial islands in the Spratlys archipelago. China condemned the operation
as a “serious political and military provocation.” Yue Gang, a Chinese expert and former
official in the People’s Liberation Army, was quoted by the Financial Times as saying,
“The U.S. aircraft carrier has stayed long within this region. China now is showing that
it’s not afraid.” Japan and Britain have also recently deployed warships in the region.
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/...ing-carrier-submarines-aircraft-a8276501.html
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Over $5.3 trillion in maritime cargo passes through the South China Sea each year,
equating to roughly one third of global maritime trade. America has controlled and
defended this vital sea-lane for decades, but now China is challenging that control.
The Liaoning’s display of potential force comes after China has built illegal and
controversial artificial islands in disputed waters, has claimed sovereignty over
other disputed islands, has become increasingly aggressive with its fishing fleets,
and has increased its influence over vital sea gates beyond the South China Sea.
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Collin Koh, a security expert at Singapore’s S. Rajaratnam School of International
Studies, spoke to cnn about China’s naval exercises involving the Liaoning.
“This show of force is not just to symbolize that China is ready to fight. There is a
lot more resolute determination on the part of China to push the military to much
greater degrees of readiness,” he said “[T]his is the new normal, and this will not
be a one-off show of force.”
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Whoever controls the So China Sea controls one third of the world’s maritime commerce.
China Is Steering the World Toward War, and [
trade wars againest America] has begun.