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Swordsmyth
05-23-2018, 03:59 PM
In the latest sign that contrary to the official rhetoric, tensions between the US and China are in fact escalating as China reaffirms its dominance of contested territory in the South China Sea (see "China Releases Footage Of Bombers Landing On Disputed Island For The First Time (https://www.zerohedge.com/news/2018-05-19/china-lands-strategic-bombers-south-china-sea-during-military-drills)") the US has disinvited China from the Pacific Rim Military Exercises, the Pentagon told AFP.

#BREAKING (https://twitter.com/hashtag/BREAKING?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) US disinvites China from Pacific military exercises: Pentagon
— AFP news agency (@AFP) May 23, 2018 (https://twitter.com/AFP/status/999317325861015553?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) According to Inside Defense (https://insidedefense.com/insider/us-disinvites-china-pacific-military-exercise#.WwWS7hC0eFg.twitter), the US military revoked the invitation because of Beijing's aggressive actions in the South China Sea, which have recently included reports that it quietly installed "defensive" missiles capable of striking US territory in the Spratly Islands. More than 20 countries, 40 ships, 200 aircraft and 25,000 personnel are expected to participate in the exercises.
As the WSJ notes (https://www.wsj.com/articles/u-s-retracts-invitation-to-china-to-participate-in-military-exercise-1527090123), China’s inclusion in the previous two Rimpac exercises was among the most tangible results of an effort by both sides since late 2010 to stabilize military ties that had often been interrupted by China over American arms sales to Taiwan.

The U.S. decision to revoke the invitation is likely to heighten tensions between Beijing and Washington amid fraught negotiations that aim to avoid a trade war.
“I think throwing them out of Rimpac would be a major political statement,” said a Senate staff member who follows the issue closely.
The US said it has "strong evidence" that China deployed anti-ship missiles, surface to air missiles and electronic jammers in contested parts of the Spratlys. The US called on China to remove the items.

"The United States is committed to a free and open Indo-Pacific," the Pentagon states. "China's behavior is inconsistent with the principles and purposes of the RIMPAC exercise."
The Pentagon asserts it has "strong evidence" that China has deployed anti-ship missiles, surface-to-air missile systems and electronic jammers to contested areas in the Spratly Islands region of the South China Sea.
"China's landing of bomber aircraft at Woody Island has also raised tensions," according to the Pentagon, referencing China's largest military outpost in the South China Sea.
[...]
"We have called on China to remove the military systems immediately and to reverse course on the militarization of disputed South China Sea features," the Pentagon states. "We believe these recent deployments and the continued militarization of these features is a violation of the promise that President Xi made to the United States and the world not to militarize the Spratly Islands."
The decision also comes as trade negotiations between the US and China are apparently unraveling, with President Trump telling the US not to expect a deal right away.

More at: https://www.zerohedge.com/news/2018-05-23/trump-shuns-xi-trade-tensions-build-us-disinvites-china-worlds-largest-naval

Raginfridus
05-23-2018, 04:36 PM
Next they'll unfriend us on facebook, and there goes civilization.

Swordsmyth
06-05-2018, 03:58 PM
China apparently removed surface-to-air missile systems from the contested islands in the South China Sea, new satellite images show.
The initial move to place the weapons on the island, first reported (http://www.foxnews.com/world/2018/05/23/us-disinvites-china-from-military-exercises-after-country-continues-militarization-disputed-island.html) by Fox news, angered U.S. officials who immediately disinvited China from the Rim of the Pacific Exercises.
http://a57.foxnews.com/images.foxnews.com/content/fox-news/world/2018/06/05/china-removes-missile-launchers-from-disputed-island-after-row-with-us-images-show/_jcr_content/article-text/article-par-2/inline_spotlight_ima/image.img.jpg/612/344/1528217210271.jpg?ve=1&tl=1


New images show China apparently removed surface-to-air missile systems from the contested islands in the South China Sea. (ImageSat International )


Satellite images taken on May 20 showed two new launchers on the northern shore of the disputed island, next to a radar system, all covered by a camouflage net.
US DISINVITES CHINA FROM MILITARY EXERCISES AFTER COUNTRY CONTINUES 'MILITARIZATION' OF DISPUTED ISLAND (http://www.foxnews.com/world/2018/05/23/us-disinvites-china-from-military-exercises-after-country-continues-militarization-disputed-island.html)
But recent images taken on Sunday by ImageSat International (https://www.imagesatintl.com/) show that the HQ-9 systems and the camouflage nets have been removed.
http://a57.foxnews.com/images.foxnews.com/content/fox-news/world/2018/06/05/china-removes-missile-launchers-from-disputed-island-after-row-with-us-images-show/_jcr_content/article-text/article-par-5/inline_spotlight_ima/image.img.jpg/612/344/1528217262666.jpg?ve=1&tl=1


Satellite images taken on May 20 showed two new launchers on the northern shore of the disputed island, next to a radar system, all covered by a camouflage net. But recent images taken on Sunday by ImageSat International show that the HQ-9 systems and the camouflage nets have been removed. (ImageSat International )


It is unclear if this is a drill, or a reaction to the U.S. efforts to stop the Chinese militarization of the Island.
U.S. Defense Secretary James Mattis said the Trump administration's recent decision to disinvite China from a multinational naval exercise this summer was an "initial response" to Beijing's island activity. Mattis called the U.S. action a "relatively small consequence.” He said China could face more severe punishment in the future.
http://a57.foxnews.com/images.foxnews.com/content/fox-news/world/2018/06/05/china-removes-missile-launchers-from-disputed-island-after-row-with-us-images-show/_jcr_content/article-text/article-par-7/inline_spotlight_ima/image.img.jpg/612/344/1528217316471.jpg?ve=1&tl=1


The initial move to place the weapons on the island, first reported by Fox news, angered U.S. officials who immediately disinvited China from the Rim of the Pacific Exercises. (ImageSat International)


"Despite China's claims to the contrary, the placement of these weapons systems is tied directly to military use for the purposes of intimidation and coercion," Mattis said during a speech at the annual Shangri-La Dialogue.

More at: http://www.foxnews.com/world/2018/06/05/china-removes-missile-launchers-from-disputed-island-after-row-with-us-images-show.html

oyarde
06-05-2018, 04:40 PM
I see no real advantage to the US by having china participate in Rimpac .

Jamesiv1
06-05-2018, 04:42 PM
Rimpac sounds like the title of a bad porn flick.