China denied a US warship entry to Hong Kong in October, just days after Washington sanctions the Chinese military for purchasing Russian weapons.
On September 26th, the US consulate in Hong Kong confirmed that China had denied a request for the port call by the U.S. Navy’s amphibious assault ship the USS Wasp.
“The Chinese Government did not approve a request for a U.S. port visit to Hong Kong by the USS Wasp,” Darragh Paradiso, a spokeswoman for the U.S. Consulate in Hong Kong, said in an email. “We have a long track record of successful port visits to Hong Kong, and we expect that will continue.”
The move comes after on September 20th the US sanctioned China’s Equipment Development Department — the agency that oversees the country’s defense technology — and its director Li Shangfu for allegedly engaging in the purchase of Russian combat aircraft and S-400 surface-to-air missiles, which it called a violation of American sanctions.
The US State Department said its actions against Li and his department weren’t intended to undermine the military capabilities or combat readiness of any country, but rather to impose costs on Russia in response to its interference in the US election process. The Kremlin dismissed the sanctions as an “unfair” move to undercut Russia as a major arms exporter.
Beijing’s top naval officer, Shen Jinlong also canceled a high-level meeting with his U.S. counterpart, Pentagon spokesman Lt. Col. Dave Eastburn as cited by the CNN. According to Collin Koh Swee Lean, a research fellow at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies in Singapore, this is China’s way of “showing displeasure without crossing the line into something more serious.”
Despite that US Defense Secretary Jim Mattis said he is “looking for a way ahead” after China recalled Shen Jinlong. “We believe that we do have to have a relationship with China and Secretary [of State Mike] Pompeo and I are of one mind on this,” Mattis told reporters at the Pentagon. “And so, we’re sorting out the way ahead right now.”
But given China’s attempts to resolve trade frictions with the Trump administration via conciliation, Koh said it was unlikely it would provoke the U.S. military into a more serious confrontation.
According to him, the action isn’t a separate phenomenon, but rather a part of a process. “We need to look at the broader context of the ongoing trade war between the two countries,” he said. “In China, they are debating how they can respond and there are hawks who say, ‘we have to strike back,” he said.
In response to the sanctions, China summoned the US ambassador and the defense attache, in addition to recalling its navy commander from his US trip. The Chinese The Defense Ministry said the US had no right to interfere in Chinese military cooperation with Russia.
“We demand that the US immediately correct the mistake and revoke the so-called sanctions, otherwise the US must bear the consequences,” the Defense Ministry said in a statement.
The Chinese Foreign Ministry said it had summoned Ambassador Terry Branstad. The Central Military Commission, which commands the People’s Liberation Army, the world’s largest standing military, said that Huang Xueping, the commission’s deputy head for international military cooperation, had also summoned the acting U.S. defense attache on September 22nd.
“The Chinese military reserves the right to take further countermeasures,” Huang was quoted as saying.
This comes amid escalations in tensions in the South China Sea, with the US flying B-52 nuclear capable bombers above the South China Sea, refusing to respect China’s claims over the region. The US has also picked up sailing and flying over the region, dismissing any Chinese protests.
According to Lt. Col. Dave Eastburn, a Pentagon spokesman, who was cited Business Insider the B-52 flights were a matter of course and not a provocation.
“The movement of these aircraft require them to fly multiple routes, to include in the vicinity of the South China Sea, part of regularly scheduled operations designed to enhance our interoperability with our partners and allies in the region. The United States military will continue to fly sail and operate wherever international law allows at a times and places of our choosing,” Eastburn said in an email.
Furthermore, on September 25th, China asked Britain to respect its territorial integrity and not risk the trust between the two nations after a British warship conducted a freedom-of-navigation exercise in the South China Sea.
British outlet the Express dubbed its article on the Britain-China exchange a “World War 3 Warning.” However, it was actually Foreign Minister Wang Yi who made the request during a meeting with British Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly meeting in New York, according to the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The Chinese foreign ministry said Wang had told Hunt about China’s stance regarding the South China Sea.
“I hope [Britain] can respect China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and do more to contribute to bilateral ties … rather than things that disturb mutual trust,” Wang was quoted as saying.
This all comes amid China’s efforts to boost its maritime capabilities. Tests on the Type-001A carrier were carried out on August 28th, the 055 Destroyer also underwent tests. With also China claiming to be making progress on AI-controlled submarines. China’s increasing naval power is a cause for concern for countries in the South China Sea region who dispute China’s claims on the waterway. The US also disputes China’s claims.
Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb, more commonly known as Dr. Strangelove, is a 1964 political satire black comedy film that satirizes the Cold War fears of a nuclear conflict between the Soviet Union and the United States. The film was directed, produced, and co-written by Stanley Kubrick, stars Peter Sellers and George C. Scott, and features Sterling Hayden, Keenan Wynn, and Slim Pickens. Production took place in the United Kingdom. The film is loosely based on Peter George’s thriller novel Red Alert (1958).
The Twilight of the War http://www.voltairenet.ORG/article202215.html
Mindless US sanctions based on an idiotic CAASTA legislation, will have negative consequences against peer economic powers that can hurt US economically and militarily. Sanctions are a feel good drug, for US deep state and neocons, that understand very little about economic and military matters.
I wonder how the americans will face the massive sale of their IOUs, when china begin to exchange them for gold, same as russia has done this year. That be the perfect answer to trumps moronic sanctions.
There is a saying give the moron enough rope and sure enough will hang himself.
And when they put extra tariff on US LGN to China.
Soonest the pipe line build to connect russian gas to china that be also the day china stop buying US gas though to my opinion it be stupid as they pay the gas from US with US IOUs. And chinese have 1.3 give or take some change of US debt.
You think the amerkans can afford that? Because the chinese definitely can and they will. Is like divine justice paying the amerkans for good gas with worthless american IOUs.
Think about it.
Exactly, and both China and Russia are building a fleet of LNG tankers that will transport LNG trough the Northern route. Slashes a third of shipping time, less fuel = better prize.
No, russia and china are building the bigger gas pipe line ever build with a contract of 200billion to begin with. I dont think they need ships for that. The ships are needed for iranian and other countries they supply china.
Yes, thats gas, they will also build a second power of Siberia line, but besides that, China has a big stake in the Yamal LNG,and the Russian artic. China just received the first 2 Russian LNG tankers through the northern route. Russia and China are building LNG hubs along the northern route and supply Asia
Yes, and it’s not just China and Russia. The US has successfully stopped the gas pipeline from Iran to Pakistan and India.
The US promised to build a gas pipeline from Turkmenistan to Pakistan and India(TAPI), they just need to subdue the Afghans, who wanted transit fees. A quick invasion, and the gas will be flowing by 2005? I gather they actually started construction in 2015, but those pesky Afghans just won’t die. It’s only half the volume of gas of the power of Siberia pipeline, so hopefully Iran will get its pipeline up, and won’t be selling in dollars
They are going on with the Yamal (good play), but I reckon China boost Iran gas.
China bought the London Metals Exchange in 2012, the flow of gold from west to east is already happening.
@Promitheas Actually the US Fed can just buy all the Chinese held IOU’s, just like they did in 2008 with QE1 (Quantitative easing). They bought over 3 Trillion $ back then, and the Chinese only have about 1.2 Trillion $ in IOU’s. But this could seriously undermine confidence in the US dollar, as the world would see this as a routine occurrence and they might start unloading their own IOU’s.If the US Fed kept buying IOU’s in the face of the world dumping them, then the waves of US$ would need to be spent somewhere. A vicious inflationary cycle a la Weimar Germany would probably begin.
you know what happen when you buy worthless pieces of paper? Chinese as well russians change all their US IOUs for gold. In 2008 most of the IOUs been taken by Japan and few other countries not just US. same happen when russia get rid of hers few months ago and got paid in gold.
In 2008 was not any serious move to abandon $ as the international trading tool. Now is almost a fact, among many countries who abandon the $ and deal in their own currency and the movement is becoming global. So dont base what you thinking and concluding what happen 10 years ago when the american bubble been busted. Then was then now is now.
If China say that, we in Britain will just send 3 British warships to conduct freedom-of-navigation exercises in the South China Sea so China can learn a the lesson……………………LOL.
you think they manage to go that far?
3 British warships to China? They could`n even muster 1 warship this summer to escort a Russian Warship in the English channel, but instead used a rusty supply ship.
https://s3.amazonaws.com/lowres.cartoonstock.com/transport-sailor-seasickness-unwell-sealegs-merchant_navy-abrn844_low.jpg
Lol.
http://raesidecartoon.com/wp-content/shop/navyships.gif
I did chuckle at that Al :) :) :)
Rule Britannia, Britannia is a ******
Tommy boy, China in return can send twice as many warships to the English Channel. And we all get to read the hysterics in the Daily Fail.
Why go to HK? The beer and girls are too expensive. Go to Thailand instead. Pattaya is a lot better for night life.
The US sailors would enjoy the Thai Lady Boys as well :)
IIRC, Thailand is cracking down on the sex tourism; a good thing for their nation.
You get off the ship and people come up and say, You want girl, 2 dollar short time, 5 dollar long time. If you say no, You want boy? if you say no, You want drugs?
That was a long time ago, I hope things are better now.
Hong Kong is great, it has law and order, but yes Bangkok is good, so is Manila, but never go ashore alone.
The Hubris from the US is beyond belief. In the same week when the US puts tariff on another 200 billion and on top of that puts sanction on China for purchasing military hardware….and then the US complains that their piece of junk is not allowed to entry port in Hong Kong…..just shows how much out of touch this sinking empire is.
It certainly does and Trumps moronic speech at the UN this week is yet more evidence of that :)
His huge ego blinds him from reality, he thought they laughed because he was funny, but they laughed about him.
It will be fascinating to see how all this ends. The US really does need a massive shake up in the standards of those who govern at all levels I think.
Empires never learn, but continue the same policy and mistakes. Al empires who build on hubris, hegemony, destruction, enslavement, wars….. eventually fall.
We are living in tumultuous times that few are privileged to see.
The demise of the US Empire has , as you rightly say, followed the pattern of all past empires.
Some , like the UK Empire, ended with a whimper and others in the total destruction of the empire.
Which route will the US empire take ?
Looking at the History of the US, its foundation is build on an almost extinction of the natives, enslavement of tens of millions of African for a free working force for the wealthy and corporations. Endless wars since 1776, countless invasions, tens of millions of civilians killed…..and still a huge hunger for more destruction and kills……this empire is going for the “Full Monty” The big Corporations who pull the strings, could`n care less, they always have their eye for a new rising star.
Sadly I fear that you are correct.
Which route will the US empire take? Answer: total destruction; hopefully they take down Israel with them.
The US had the chance to slowly relinquish power like the UK did, but they refused, and plan to do the Carthage thing.
America is 110% capitalist and just like paying to speak at the synagogue, money buys anything and everything in America/Israel. Most Americans think Trump is a genius, because he is rich, they equate intelligence with wealth.
Sorry, just said something like that above, again to Florian. Maybe I should read a few posts below, before I comment.
:-)
Have you ever heard of a speech at the UN, when almost every delegate from every other Country laughs AT and not WITH the speaker; especially when the speaker is the US President ?.
Never Al, and I feel so privileged to have seen in in real time :)
It just shows how far the US has fallen and the UK is not far behind.
I saw it on the leftist BS channel, the BBC, yet the response was still quite amazing; I for one have never ever seen or read about that before.
Good times coming after the bad.
Trump is now attempting to ‘spin’ the laughter as ‘ laughing with him’.
The audience began to laugh in unison though whilst Trump was spewing inane and contradictory statements with a ‘straight and rather smug face ‘.
I know, I watched it live…. words fail me.
I wonder if Google will delete it from searches in due course ?
I think he got training to speek ‘moronic’. It ain’t normal – seems like they set him -or better Joe Average- up for the history books…
Perhaps he wanted to go after the Mormon vote, but forgot the word !!!.
His wives will know the reality I am sure. :)
Regards the “British outlet the Express”, it is what is known as a “red top” ie crap; it is now owned by the Mirror or Trinity Mirror, a left wing propaganda spout, like the Guardian and US MSM. STOP QUOTING THEM PLEASE.
In spite all the hype this is actually the least of anyone’s worries…
http://soturian.blogspot.com/2018/08/the-purging-of-xinjiang.html
That’s because you have never spent any time at sea dude. Being at sea for long periods, is not like working in dads pawn shop.
That is not what I meant at all, and I’ve been through a lot more than you’d be willing to admit.