Chinese warships ram Vietnamese warships in the South China Sea

[derspiess]

The Vietnamese should have just opened fire. 

Causing nationalistic panic in China and drawing Xi Jinping into an unwinnable war.  After a decade of fighting with no resolution China withdraws.  Chinese film makers create masterpieces of this dark chapter of their nations history; most notably: "Appocarypse Now."

Don't forget "Pratoon" and "Furr Metar Jacket", the latter a moving tale about the war experience of a Vietnamese mink coat maker.

The hollol... the hollol...

[The Brain]

I'm sure even a Chinaman can pronounce the name of his betrothed.

[alfred russel]

I think some chinese captain recently saw 20,000 leagues under the sea and was inspired by captain nemo.

[Ideologue]

Raciss

I didn't check my privilege.   

A reckless, Obama-sanctioned drone should've opened fire.

[derspiess]

Recklessly *descending* 

Brings to mind a Stuka drone complete with sirens, which would be pretty damned awesome.

[Ideologue]

I think we'd all be happy to pay taxes for that.

[Phillip V]

What did Obama do during his recent Asia trip?

[The Brain]

What did Obama do during his recent Asia trip?

Appear simian.

[Syt]

Well, it's the U.S.' fault after all:

http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/05/09/us-china-usa-idUSBREA4804Z20140509

China blames U.S. for stoking tensions in South China Sea

(Reuters) - China's foreign ministry blamed the United States on Friday for stoking tensions in the disputed South China Sea by encouraging countries to engage in dangerous behavior, following an uptick in tensions between China and both the Philippines and Vietnam.

China this week accused Vietnam of intentionally colliding with its ships in the South China Sea after Vietnam asserted that Chinese vessels used water cannon and rammed eight of its vessels at the weekend near an oil rig.

The United States has called China's deployment of the rig "provocative and unhelpful" to security in the region, urging restraint on all sides.

Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying repeated that the waters the rig was operating in, around the Paracel Islands, were Chinese territory and that no other country had the right to interfere.

"It must be pointed out that the recent series of irresponsible and wrong comments from the United States which neglect the facts about the relevant waters have encouraged certain countries' dangerous and provocative behavior," Hua told a daily news briefing.

"We urge the United States to act in accordance with maintaining the broader picture of regional peace and security, and act and speak cautiously on the relevant issue, stop making irresponsible remarks and do more to maintain regional peace and stability," she added.

Tensions are also brewing in another part of the sea, with Beijing demanding that the Philippines release a Chinese fishing boat and its crew seized on Tuesday off Half Moon Shoal in the Spratly Islands.

Philippine police said the boat and its crew were seized for hunting sea turtles, which are protected under local laws.

Hua said the Philippines' actions were illegal as they had entered Chinese waters to seize the boat and its crew.

"We once more demand the Philippines immediately release them unconditionally ... China reserves the right to take further action," she said, without elaborating.

Manila says the Chinese boat was seized 60 miles off Palawan island, within a 200-mile (320-kilometre) exclusive economic zone declared by the Philippines.

The incident coincided with annual war games this week in the Philippines involving 5,500 American and Filipino soldiers and marines, focusing on maritime security.

Up in the northern Zambales coastline, Philippine and U.S. marines, in rubber boats, assaulted an isolated beach in a mock battle to test the combat readiness of the two oldest allies in Asia-Pacific region.

They also conducted a staff exercise focused on maritime security, responding to a simulated attack on a gas platform and pipeline in western Palawan island.

"We are only testing our contingency plans. This is purely simulations. We are not talking of any particular third country involved in the attack," said a senior Philippine naval officer, who declined to be named because he was not authorized to talk to the press.

China claims almost the entire South China Sea, rejecting rival claims to parts or all of the oil and gas rich waters from Vietnam, the Philippines, Taiwan, Malaysia and Brunei.

Last month, the Philippines and United States signed a new security pact allowing American forces wider access to local bases and to build storage facilities as part of U.S. President Barack Obama's "pivot" to Asia policy.

Obama, during a two-day visit to Manila, promised "ironclad" commitment to defend the Philippines, a former American colony, from external aggression.

[Valmy]

Vietnam does whatever we tell them to do.

[grumbler]

Vietnam does whatever we tell them to do.

Always has, always will.

[Ed Anger]

CHINESE RAMMING MEGATHREAD

[mongers]

Is Tim a North Korean agent sent to undermine the morale of the democratic south and generally jinx the country ?   

All he has to say is "those South Korean wargames we're pretty neat" and the country collapses  mounting an ineffective defence against north hordes precipiated by his use of the above trigger phrase. 

[Razgovory]

I think it's a good thing that the Tim isn't controlling our military.  Or any military.

[Siege]

We could get some strongly worded hashtags against the chinesse.
That shall teach them.