Chinese warships head for Somalia in groundbreaking mission
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some14some
Direct reference to Japan Only.
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LFRAgain
Interestingly, China has trouble managing pirates off its own coast. How much more effective will it be in the Indian Ocean?
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kwatt
China dispatched 3 battle ships there. China may be able to become an international police in future. America is so busy about Iraq and Afghanistan.
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SuperLib
They're going to have to deal with this at some point. With so many different nations operating ships to the area they need organization to make sure no mistakes are made.
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mushroomcloud
Since this deployment is a response to the Somali attack on a Chinese merchant ship which was repelled by the Chinese sailors and a helicopter from the coalition, it is only natural for China to send it's navy to protect their ships and citizens.
Japan's ships have been attacked as well, so we should naturally expect a Japanese naval response in the very near future.
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Alphaape
Once again, the UN is not doing its job. I don't even think a resolution has been passed denouncing these acts, and if it were, it could do little about them.
I can't wait to hear the mass protest and the demands to boycott Chinese goods once these guys get over there and shoot a boat or two. I doubt that would happen, but if one of the many USN ships over there opened fire, there would be protests in the streets.
Good luck China. Make sure you aim straight and don't hit any Japanese merchants.
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smithinjapan
some14some: '"But analysts predicted the Chinese intervention could be troubling to some Asian nations who might see it as a sign of the Chinese military becoming more aggressive." (direct reference to Japan only)'
I think for the most part it is indeed Japan that is shaking in its boots, and that's in part why Japan also wants to 'contribute SDF for the piracy problem'. However, it could also be a show of strength for nearby Taiwan. I agree it's MAINLY a reference to Japan, and Japan is right to be afraid, though.
It's just a shame no one else was really willing to get involved and help until it either directed their shipping or they needed to show up politically.
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elbudamexicano
I praise China for doing the right thing. China has been helping many,many countries in Africa for many years, now that enough is enough, China has realized that they are not going to allow a few skinny,dorky Somalis to scare off the country that just held it's first ever olympics. I think China should do like the Indian Navy and go right for the Somali Pirate motherships, no motherships, no Somalis to bother your tankers, etc..right?
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apecNetworks
ASEAN is the "key". If ASEAN can integrate resources, they could combine resources to send a small contingent to coordinate w/ the pirate problem. It would cost ASEAN peanuts if allocated correctly and could function as a regional "great force" to address regional problems - need not be top technology. This would fit in well w/ the ASEAN plus 3 arrangement. Competition and cooperation is the "key".
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bdiego
This is one of the few times all the nations of the world are getting together to do the right thing. It's sad that the UN's only role is legalizing anti-piracy efforts, as much as their inaction contributed to this problem in the first place. The good news is pirates have very few sympathizers, other than like minded criminals.
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Triumvere
Smith,
Why, exactly is Japan "shaking in its boots"? Japan is certainly wary of China, and may fear its potential, but as things stand they have no reason to by terrifed. The MSDF, despite its name, is one of the largest and most technically advanced navies in the world. True, its armaments are mostly defensive, and it lacks proper logistical suport, but it should have no problem defending the home islands from a Chinese attack. The danger in China is all in its potential; it hasn't reached anywhere near that yet.
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Triumvere
err... that should read "technologically"
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bdiego
Yeah, saying Japan is shaking in its boots is like saying the US was shaking in its boots during the cold war. Yes they were threatened, but in total war showdown China would lose a war against Japan and the US - by treaty an attack on Japan is an attack on the US.
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mael
Great news! Blow them out of the water and leave the crew for shark-bait. I hope they lob some guided missiles which find their mark on the towns and villages they live in and destroy their whole families and communities.
Looking forward to seeing videos on Youtube. ... Salivating for sights of blood and gore, oil slicks and twisted steel.
But that's 'coz their Black! If White nations commit piracy or other crimes on the high-seas then it seems to be all right.
Must get that made in the PRC crud on the shelves.
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Triumvere
Which "white nations" are commiting piracy, again?
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sailwind
Need a U.N resolution passed to form a maritime coalition and unify the command structure and intelligence sharing between the nations that are sending their Navy assets to the region ASAP.
Much like the structure used by to enforce the U.N sanctions agaisn't Saddam. The overall commander of the international naval fleet used then and was designated Commodore, rotated on a six month basis between the nations. It will also help on the cost burden to operate a 24/7 patrol of the gulf by sharing fuel costs and re-supply between the nations that would participate in the maritime coalition.
Right now without a clear cut chain of command within pre-authorized limits and clear cut rules of engagement only works to the pirates advantage and agaisn't Navy forces from different countries.
Alpha and superlib are right on the money with this. The U.N needs to get involved and involved fast on this one.
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smithinjapan
Triumvere: Please.... have you spoken to Japanese at all about anything Chinese, and in particular militarism? They talk to you with a mixture of fear and the reactionary anger that comes with it. During the opening ceremonies of the Olympics my Japanese friends, and later many acquaintances commented on how 'scary' it was... so many people who all 'looked the same'. When the Chinese overreact and storm/crash the Japanese embassy over textbooks or what have you, again the anger/fear combination.
I agree that China's military is not nearly as advanced as Japan's (Japan has the highest spending on military outside of the US, I believe, and most of that is tech), but they have nukes, and they have people power. Basically, the world war it would turn out to be aside, if China for some reason attacked Japan or vice-versa, Japan would be annihilated in a very short period of time; from land, and by sea (specifically subs). Yes yes, I know China would get wiped out too, but not BY Japan.
bdiego: The US/Russia during the Cold War are not at all comparable to China/Japan today. It's a lame comparison; hell, you even admit it in your own statement by saying that China would lose in a war 'against Japan and the US' (ie. Not only against Japan). Without the US support, hell, even WITH US support, Japan would light up like the sun, and glow in the dark for decades. If the US joined in to defend, it would result in a world war that no one would survive. NK, Russia, and other nations would come to the aid of China immediately, and you know where it goes from there.
Strictly China against Japan, though? Japan would be history. Japan knows this, and they know that they depend on the US, hence for every issue they put forth they need to do so on the world stage. NKorea won't listen to Japan in bilateral talks. China, S.Korea, Russia, and you name it won't listen to them on border disputes. The UN/US usually decide not to take sides strictly because they know that stepping in on behalf of Japan endangers talks, but don't back out because Japan cannot defend itself and they also need Japan for its tech. and strategic location, etc. Hell, Japan BEGS the US to keep NK on the terrorism list; they were 'upset' that the US went back to calling Dokdo islands SKorea's when it was quickly changed back, etc.
And now we have Aso saying they might also contribute to the fight on piracy.... and why is that? Because they need to try and stand up to China's military might.
China is far more than a threat or a country with potential, it's a downright menace with a population 1/6 of the world's. There are FAR more people with national pride and a willingness to fight for it in China than in Japan. Personally I don't think that's a great thing, and prefer Japan's pacifist attitude to war, but that doesn't change how dangerous China is.
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smithinjapan
sailwind: "Right now without a clear cut chain of command within pre-authorized limits and clear cut rules of engagement only works to the pirates advantage and agaisn't Navy forces from different countries."
For once we're in agreement. It's going to be chaos out there, and plenty of room for minor disputes, if not major, amongst the other nation's boats. I don't think the warships that more modernized countries will resemble anything the pirates have, but there's plenty of room for confusion and friendly fire, as well. As you said, all this COULD work to the pirates advantage.
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presto345
I think it is a good thing that while the UN has been dragging its feet, as usual in these international complications, that more and more nations on their own initiatives are dispatching vessels and try to do something to at least limit the damage these pirates are causing. It is beyond me why the German government ordered the release of 6 captured pirates who attacked an Egyptian vessel. Was this a humanitarian gesture to the poor Somali thugs?
0
ptolemy
Wow it looks like China will beat the MSDF to the scene. Aso must be a bit upset.
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nandakandamanda
"Some Asian nations"? Why zero in on Japan alone?
Taiwan comes to mind first. Then Vietnam, and Malaysia are obvious candidates as they've had bitter run-ins with China over islands disputed between them. Japan will also be one of such Asian nations, for sure, as will South Korea.
But hey, as long as there is a common enemy everyone will be happy. Whether 'Terrorists' or 'Pirates'. Maybe the UN should fund the bad guys, just to keep the world at peace! :D
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Triumvere
Smith,
Don't get me wrong: if the full force of the Chinese Navy was turned against Japan, the MSDF would not be able to hold it back for long. But an all out war is unlikely in the forseeable future, and Japan does not stand alone.
Your Japanese friends are right to be anxious; China IS dangerous. Its potential is vast and its intentions unclear... even, I would imagine, to the Chinese themselves. China is in flux. Still, I wouldn't classify my aquaintances as "shaking in their boots." War is such a distant concept to most that the possibility seems negligable.
In my experience the average Japanese is apolitical and largely ignorant of history and geopolitics. Does your friends' reaction suprise you? WWII was so tramatic that it gave the entire nation collective amnesia. They don't understand where the Chinese are coming from, so out bursts of anti-Japanese sentiment and violence are suprising, inexplicable, and, yes, frightening. Moreover, the typical Japanese (despite the best attempts of the revisionist far right) abhorrs violence and war of all sorts. The fierce warrior spirit which burned within the Japanese for centuries is currently dormant. I wonder, if China pushes just a bit too far, if it will not wake up again... and what will happen then...?
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mushroomcloud
Through it all, what is interesting to note is that Japan diplomatically has been following China's footsteps for some time now. Every strategic move China makes, Japan tries to catch up. Several instances to note:
-China's free trade agreements with much of Asia, reaction from Japan is to try to have these agreements with Asia as well; -China's expansion into Africa, Japan tries to increase it's leverage there after seeing how far China has gotten on in this part of the world; -China's sending of a naval task force to Somalia after one of her merchant ships was attacked yet repelled, Japan scrambles to send their warships to this region as well.
It's pretty evident. Japan is paranoid about the prospect of constantly being upstaged by China. When China surpasses Japan in terms of economic size within the next 5-10 years (that is, if we all get out of this financial crisis), Japan will have lost all of it's boasting points as a major power in relation to China.
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smithinjapan
Triumvare: I'm not disagreeing with you -- at least not your last comment -- but you do make a point that was part of my original post; that this is posturing on both sides, and part of Japan's decision to look seriously into sending people there is because of China. In other words, the 'what if the samurai spirit is rekindled' question seems to be very much the desire of a few old cronies in power, and that's all it takes. We have nuts, as you say, who try to revise history, like with the recent essay by Tamogawa or whatever his name was, and the umpteen dozen textbook companies. We also have nuts who say that they should start building nuclear weapons and arming themselves, as well as people who want to renounce article 9 of the constitution and put Japan in more overseas missions. The former of these ended up getting canned for his remarks, I believe (maybe 2 or three years ago?), but in truth he probably just uttered the sentiments of more than a few people up there who want the 'glory days' back.
I also agree with you 100% that more than your average Japanese abhor violence and are against war, though many an older folk still like to water down Japan's atrocities, with some I know very much believing Japan actually helped its neighbours. I exaggerated when I said all Japanese are quaking in their boots -- not all are at all. Finally, I think it's sad that Japan need be afraid of China, and even sadder that many are so ignorant of history, because it's part of that ignorance that drives the anger and unites the people of China to show it off. This mission is an example both positive and negative for China. On the one hand, as the article explains, it's a chance for them to get more involved in the world and show off how technologically advanced and suited for such missions they've become. On the more sinister side they are saber rattling to an extent and showing off their power as a kind of warning.
Hence, in my original post I said that NOT only Japan need be worried, but also Taiwan in particular, and it's a bit of a message to the US who stands behind both Taiwan and Japan.
There's nothing to worry about for the time being, of course, but as you say and as I know you never know what China is up to.
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bobbafett
Iran should send one of its speeds boats with the cannons attached, and ruin the entire pirate force in seconds. That should send a message.
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UnagiDon
smithinjapan;
No, the "anger" that the Chinese show to Japan is because of a violently xenophobic education system that demonizes Taiwan, "the West", and Japan in particular. Do not blame the hostility and virulent nationalism of China on Japan - it is the conscious act of a Communist Party that needs to justify is own existence through nationalism and the atrocities of the Japan of 60+ years ago. Now that China's economy, the Communist Party's other claim to legitimacy, is beginning to tank, expect more nationalist outbursts from China given the slightest pretext from accommodating idiots in the LDP or SDF.
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IcingDeath
Lets just hope that China doesn't screw up like India did and blow a Pirate Mothership out of the water only to find out weeks later that it was an innocent merchant ship caught in the wrong place at the wrong time.
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mael
The very last thing that the world needs is for the UN to be appointed as police for the 'high seas.'
This defacto Global Government is the dream of the self-appointed elite which is headed by dynastical banking families.
I reckon if China wants to sell its crap to the world via ships then the onus is on them to protect their investments - An armed escort perhaps? It's cost them a bit, but as they pay their workers nothing or very little then their prices would still be very competitive with nations filled with dying industries which are suffering from the glut of shoddily made 'goods' from the PRC.
Yeah! Iran should also protect their exports. When dealing with pirates it is morally acceptable to me at any rate to exterminate by any and all means possible the threat of Black bandits in boats.
Speaking of piracy I hope the Japanese whalers put a few warning holes in those Gweenpeace hulks which are bothering them.
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