March 13, 2015
By Barbara Starr
Washington (CNN)T (click here) he ability of the U.S. and Canadian military to defend North America could be jeopardized by stepped up Russian military activity, according to the commander of the North American Aerospace Defense Command.
By Barbara Starr
Washington (CNN)T (click here) he ability of the U.S. and Canadian military to defend North America could be jeopardized by stepped up Russian military activity, according to the commander of the North American Aerospace Defense Command.
Adm.
William Gortney told the Senate Armed Services Committee on Thursday
that Russia is continuing to work on its program to deploy "long-range
conventionally armed cruise missiles," that can be launched from its
bomber aircraft, submarines and warships. This is giving the Kremlin
"deterrent" options "short of the nuclear threshold," Gortney said....
Now, the USA can't defend North America? That is confusing. Now, the issue of China building artificial islands to define it's border is really a development that needs to be brought to the attention of the United Nations.
March 31, 2015
By John Garnaut
A powerful American naval officer (click here) has fired a warning at China for rapidly building "a Great Wall" of artificial islands across hotly-contested waters.
Admiral Harry Harris, soon to take charge of Pacific Command, told a dinner at the Australian War Memorial on Tuesday night that the string of new islands posed a serious threat to stability in the South China Sea.
He said the artificial expanse was "roughly the size of Canberra's Black Mountain Nature Reserve" and that they stretched across some of the world's busiest sea lanes.
Those sea lanes carry around 60 per cent of Australian trade, posing a major strategic conundrum for the Abbott government....
When Dubai built isn't artificial island it was expected. It was also within it's national waters. This move by China is deliberately alarming.
...One of the new islands in question is a runway and port-shaped structure extended more than 3km, over previously submerged coral reef, which analysts say could mark a tipping point in China's ability to project air power thousands of kilometres from its coastal waters.
"China is creating a great wall of sand with dredges and bulldozers over the course of months," said Admiral Harris, who is currently commander of the US Pacific Fleet....
Someone had to speak up. This is a very bad pattern of aggression by China. The location is highly disputed and that is not new. The idea a country can siply build into the ocean is dangerous. The United Nations has to look at treaties and bring this under the umbrella of peace rather than a wealthy nation taking land away from people that can't defend themselves.
..."This marks a real ramping up of US determination and resolve in the region, reflecting a realisation that China is determined to play hard ball in the South China Sea," said Professor Wesley.
He said Australia could not avoid being affected "given that 60 per cent of its trade goes through the South China Sea".
Professor Wesley said the strident American rhetoric marked a "dangerous escalation"....
When it comes to Russia's escalation of their military, I am sure the USA has weapons to match that of Russia.
To proceed with any trade agreements is wrong. This is putting China in a new light. At this moment if China is going forward with their plans about this artificial island, it is in violation of an established treaty.
...He urged China and other nations to conform to a China-ASEAN code of conduct, which commits nations to exercise self-restraint.
"How China proceeds will be a key indicator of whether the region is heading towards confrontation or co-operation," he said.
By John Garnaut
A powerful American naval officer (click here) has fired a warning at China for rapidly building "a Great Wall" of artificial islands across hotly-contested waters.
Admiral Harry Harris, soon to take charge of Pacific Command, told a dinner at the Australian War Memorial on Tuesday night that the string of new islands posed a serious threat to stability in the South China Sea.
He said the artificial expanse was "roughly the size of Canberra's Black Mountain Nature Reserve" and that they stretched across some of the world's busiest sea lanes.
Those sea lanes carry around 60 per cent of Australian trade, posing a major strategic conundrum for the Abbott government....
When Dubai built isn't artificial island it was expected. It was also within it's national waters. This move by China is deliberately alarming.
...One of the new islands in question is a runway and port-shaped structure extended more than 3km, over previously submerged coral reef, which analysts say could mark a tipping point in China's ability to project air power thousands of kilometres from its coastal waters.
"China is creating a great wall of sand with dredges and bulldozers over the course of months," said Admiral Harris, who is currently commander of the US Pacific Fleet....
Someone had to speak up. This is a very bad pattern of aggression by China. The location is highly disputed and that is not new. The idea a country can siply build into the ocean is dangerous. The United Nations has to look at treaties and bring this under the umbrella of peace rather than a wealthy nation taking land away from people that can't defend themselves.
..."This marks a real ramping up of US determination and resolve in the region, reflecting a realisation that China is determined to play hard ball in the South China Sea," said Professor Wesley.
He said Australia could not avoid being affected "given that 60 per cent of its trade goes through the South China Sea".
Professor Wesley said the strident American rhetoric marked a "dangerous escalation"....
When it comes to Russia's escalation of their military, I am sure the USA has weapons to match that of Russia.
To proceed with any trade agreements is wrong. This is putting China in a new light. At this moment if China is going forward with their plans about this artificial island, it is in violation of an established treaty.
...He urged China and other nations to conform to a China-ASEAN code of conduct, which commits nations to exercise self-restraint.
"How China proceeds will be a key indicator of whether the region is heading towards confrontation or co-operation," he said.
