Are Chinese military drills and exercises a cause for concern?

LCDR Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 30 Jul 2015 09:38:01 -0400

China is "flexing its muscle" but is that necessarily a bad thing? Obviously the US and China do not always have the same goals in mind, but the line differentiating them has gotten somewhat fuzzy. Perhaps we can benefit from the Chinese military actions and work with them for security and stability in the region.

http://www.voanews.com/content/china-stages-huge-military-drills-in-south-china-sea/2886590.html

What do you think?

China Stages Huge Military Drills in South China Sea

Philippine armed forces say they had 'no problem' with live-fire drills but also hope for more transparency in future

Response by LCDR Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 30 at 2015 9:39 AM

LCDR Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 30 Jul 2015 09:39:15 -0400

I can't help but mention that the picture reminds me of the "Great White Fleet"

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/96/Us-atlantic-fleet-1907.jpg

Response by CPO Don Lamb made Jul 30 at 2015 10:23 AM

CPO Don Lamb — Thu, 30 Jul 2015 10:23:20 -0400

Short answer, absolutely YES!

Response by PO3 Steven Sherrill made Jul 30 at 2015 11:02 AM

PO3 Steven Sherrill — Thu, 30 Jul 2015 11:02:01 -0400

China wants a war with the US no more than we want a war with them. It is similar to the Cold War in that the opportunity for two nuclear powers to use them in the event of a conventional war. There can be no winner in a war between two nuclear powers. China is just flexing their military muscles hoping to impress the smaller nations in the region.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 30 at 2015 11:09 AM

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 30 Jul 2015 11:09:17 -0400

There are many things that are bad that can be used to one's advantage. China historically does not become expeditionary unless they are very expeditionary. Does that mean that they will pose a threat to the U.S.? I don't think so directly, but indirectly there is a high possibility.

Response by SN Greg Wright made Jul 30 at 2015 12:33 PM

SN Greg Wright — Thu, 30 Jul 2015 12:33:11 -0400

Yes. Given our overwhelming commitment (and responsibility, since we skewered their ability to defend themselves) to the defense of Japan, anything China does that effects Japan will effect us.

Response by LCDR Rabbah Rona Matlow made Jul 30 at 2015 12:43 PM

LCDR Rabbah Rona Matlow — Thu, 30 Jul 2015 12:43:32 -0400

We flex our muscles in all the seas of the world; why should any other country not do the same? I'm sure if you're a leader of a country that isn't friendly with us, you would probably be threatened by our ships operating 50 miles off your coast, shooting guns and missiles...

So, yes, it's appropriate to be cautious or concerned, but not paranoid...

Response by PO3 Daniel Spooner made Jul 30 at 2015 1:43 PM

PO3 Daniel Spooner — Thu, 30 Jul 2015 13:43:10 -0400

Well their occupation of disputed islands and the reclamation of reefs so close to the Philippines tells me they were trying to send a message to the Philippines and the US that they are capable of defending those Islands. How they can make the claim that those Islands are anywhere near their homeland is beyond any reason. I understand their motive for wanting those Islands to establish air bases to patrol the S. China Sea as a counter to our superior Naval power, but I also believe that they did this at a time when we no longer have a base(naval) there in the PH, and also an air base as we abandoned Clark. They know that since their only access to any major ports are on their Eastern coast, they will do anything to insure that merchant ships carrying materials and oil will never be blocked by the US or our allies. Since we now have a reduced naval force in the region, specifically a large carrier force that we maintained during the Vietnam war era, I believe they will continue to expand in the region. Since Japan is limited to having a self defense navy and the Philippine navy along with the other nations in the region having small naval forces, I feel that our allies are at risk. China may not be able to challenge our Navy head on, I believe that they can present a danger to our allies and they should be checked now before further island reclamation goes toward.

Response by PO1 Glenn Boucher made Jul 30 at 2015 2:07 PM

PO1 Glenn Boucher — Thu, 30 Jul 2015 14:07:49 -0400

Better to be concerned than to sit back and wonder why they are in your backyard in a few years. Spratly Islands is a perfect example, the gate was left unattended and now they are building artificial islands.

Response by Jacob Casaus made Jul 30 at 2015 9:04 PM

Jacob Casaus — Thu, 30 Jul 2015 21:04:02 -0400

From the research that I have done, China can talk the walk but can't walk the walk, China may have one of the biggest militaries but they are fairly poor. The US' s equipment for a solider or marine is around $17'000 average, were as the Chinese can only spare $1500 on a soldiers equipment. Also the people in command in the Chinese military are considerably unreliable, most are getting arrested for a variety of reasons. I can rant for hours on how much better the US military is than China's but these a few examples.

Response by PO1 Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 30 at 2015 11:10 PM

PO1 Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 30 Jul 2015 23:10:08 -0400

Should they be? Potentially, they are disruptive at best, destabilizing at the worst. But aside from simply conducting exercises, the RPC is also building up artificial islands in the S. China Sea, which does allow them to project more air power, within its sphere of influence, of course. Decently sited and having an additional layer of land-based aircraft, they can theoretically stake out a solid claim on what they say is their piece of the pie. They may not be able to match the US ship-for-ship, man-for-man, or plane-for-plane, but, as von Clausewitz stated, “Superior numbers, far from contributing everything, or even a substantial part, to victory, may actually be contributing to very little depending on the circumstances…But superiority varies in degree…it can obviously reach the point where it is overwhelming…so long as it is great enough to counterbalance all other contributing circumstances." What can they do if the decision to wrest control of that particular area is made?

Response by PO1 John Miller made Aug 1 at 2015 7:22 AM

PO1 John Miller — Sat, 01 Aug 2015 07:22:54 -0400

As much as I may disagree with their politics, China has every right to defend themselves, and train their military in that defense.