Japanese and American Naval Ships Jointly Patrol the South China Sea
The Chinese are not going to like how the Japanese continue to expand their naval activities in the South China Sea in support of the U.S.’s freedom of navigation mission there:
The littoral combat ship USS Gabrielle Giffords joined two Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force ships for training in the contentious South China Sea on Tuesday, a Navy statement said.
The Navy vessel sailed with the JMSDF’s training ships JS Kashima and JS Shimayuki to “emphasize the importance of communications and coordination while operating together,” according to the statement.
“The opportunity to operate with our friends and allies at sea is incredibly important for our combined readiness and partnership,” Expeditionary Strike Group 7 commander Rear Adm. Fred Kacher said in the statement.
Stars & Stripes
You can read more at the link, but the Chinese claim nearly the entire South China Sea as part of China. The freedom of navigation patrols by the U.S. and other countries supporting the American effort challenge these Chinese claims.
Just imagine what a message would be sent to Beijing if South Korea joined Japan on one of these patrols. It will never happen under the current government, but maybe a possibility down the road if the politics in South Korea changes.
This was a huge missed opportunity for Moon to get leverage on China and Japan at the same time… Now both sides think much less of him…
setnaffa, Japan needs American navy to defend their Senkaku Islands which the Chinese call the Daiyou. And America needs Japanese navy to show the Chinese that everybody is against them. Both countries are using each other because it shares a national interest. But in the end, this is just a show, there’s going to be no war with China. Next year, it’s Japan’s turn to face the US wrath, and they have to come up with $8 billion. I’m sure Japan already knows that the US is throwing all its allies under the bus in return for dollars. Ask Germany, South Korea, Canada, Australia, how they were thrown under China’s bus after your country used them. Now no country is dumb enough to choose the US over China, instead of keeping a balanced relations between them and risk China’s future wrath after the US makes a big deal with China.
Case in point, the way the US betrays Canada by making a deal with China, while Canada may end up holding the bag to face China’s anger.
https://www.thestar.com/politics/federal/2020/06/26/donald-trump-offered-mengs-release-in-trade-talks-with-china-john-bolton-says.html
Everything in Bolton’s book is pretty much a lie or made up story….
Bolton is a real-life Walter Mitty…
https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/1939/03/18/the-secret-life-of-walter-james-thurber
Koreanman, you have never set foot on US soil. Ignore the headlines and the talking points from your minders. Walk into an average US bar, and strike up a conversation with a stranger (well not today you might get COVID). Talk about international trade and you will find the overwhelming majority of Americans hold a dim view of trade with China. Most intelligent Americans would rather pay a little extra for an item made in the US than a cheap import(or pay the same, shipping costs within the US are low). I don’t live in the US anymore, but I know what I see in my social media posts from old friends and colleagues.