Thursday February 16, 2012

JAPAN NEWS AND DISCUSSION

Somali pirates seize Chinese ship with 25 crew

World Oct. 20, 2009 - 04:35AM JST ( 17 )

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17 Comments

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ratpackOct. 20, 2009 - 10:27AM JST

Now this will be interesting!!!! Don't tempt the Chinese military....they are just itching to show their might.
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USNinJapan2Oct. 20, 2009 - 10:30AM JST

Looking forward to seeing how proficient the PRC's specops snipers are...
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bushloverOct. 20, 2009 - 11:54AM JST

Somalis must not have had televisions in 1989. No CNN. China could come down on them. Let er rip PRC.
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cooperstownOct. 20, 2009 - 12:18PM JST

China is the leading force for globalization in Africa, and here they get a taste of the downside associated with their increasingly large presence there.
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timorborderOct. 20, 2009 - 12:22PM JST

This reminds me of what used to happen in Lebanon all those years ago, when journalists, diplomats and a number of other people were being kidnapped. Anyway, while the US and Western Countries prevaricated about this issue, the Russians had a couple of people snatched off the street. According to what somebody told me (somebody who had a background in such things), the Russians came up with a rather easy solution. They knew who had done the kidnapping so they started snatching people themselves and mailing body parts back to the people holding the Russian hostages. Apparently the nerve of the kidnappers broke when they were sent the head of one of their colleagues arranged as a fruit basket, complete with a couple of cherries (use your imagination). The hostages were released without any ransom or anything.

Anyway, in this day and age, I would not put it past the PRC to do something similar once they find out who is responsible.
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skipthesongOct. 20, 2009 - 12:31PM JST

They knew who had done the kidnapping so they started snatching people themselves and mailing body parts back to the people holding the Russian hostages." I liked that!
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SuperLibOct. 20, 2009 - 12:37PM JST

Yeah, the Russians are famous for going after the families or loved ones of the kidnappers.
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ratpackOct. 20, 2009 - 01:38PM JST

Lets hope the somalis highjack a russian ship
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USNinJapan2Oct. 20, 2009 - 01:38PM JST

timorborder

...and mailing body parts back...

All for it but a problem. I don't think Somalia has a working postal system... : )
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timorborderOct. 20, 2009 - 01:58PM JST

All for it but a problem. I don't think Somalia has a working postal system... : )

This is a good point USN. Then again, why did god create helicopters if not for loadies to kick out (parachute-equipped) consignments of body parts. It might not be UPS, but it would be rather safe to assume that there is a bush telegraph in operation in Somalia.

On the other hand, the cashed-up Chinese might just offer a reward. Say US$10 million for information leading to the "prosecution" (in a Chinese sense) of the guilty parties. Moreover, to sweeten the deal, the Chinese might offer to "look after" the dependents of people offering information until the guilty were punished. In other words, a form of assurance regarding the information quality.

What about systematic genocide against the Somalis. Having few of the hangups of the "weak" Western democracies, in the absence of a government in Somalia, the Chinese might just indiscriminately slaughter the locals. Was it Mao who said "power flows from the barrel of a gun?" Knock over enough Somali civilians and sooner or later people would be more than willing to dob in the guilty parties.

Then again, the Chinese might just ignore the existence of hostages (they are already lost) and instead start an indiscriminate campaign of sinking Somali vessels. It looks like a duck (pirate), it quacks like a duck (pirate) - SINK IT. Such a plan of action would also be effective.
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USNinJapan2Oct. 20, 2009 - 02:13PM JST

timorborder

Which means it's only a matter of time until some of our resident conspiracy theorists here will start saying that the US (specifically the CIA) is actually paying the Chinese to do all those things that it can't do but the Chinese don't mind doing...
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YelnatsOct. 20, 2009 - 04:10PM JST

I would love to see the Chinese start sinking pirate boats right and left with submarine power.
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JunnamaOct. 20, 2009 - 04:16PM JST

You mean they should treat them as they do the Uighurs....
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tclhOct. 20, 2009 - 07:31PM JST

China may not take any tough ,violent action at this time to maintain its friendly images to African nations...at least on the surface.
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LIBERTASOct. 20, 2009 - 07:46PM JST

There is a Bush telegraph in operation in Somalia.

Correct. It's for stealing the natural resources. Likely some business takes place for both those stolen resources and the Chinese crewmembers. Remember, the pirates are kidnapping for ransom to make a living, and to protest the illegal overfishing and dumping of chemical and nuclear waste in their waters, according to the Times of London recently.
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YuriOtaniOct. 21, 2009 - 03:33AM JST

They are pirates and criminals and since this ship is considered to be Chinese territory they have the right to hunt these pirates down. LIBERTAS, these are CRIMINALS and not just "making a living". It would serve the Somali pirates if the Chinese hunt them all down. I watch with interest as the Chinese Navy hunts down these scum.