With tension growing in the pacific, is the US taking a strong enough stance with our international interests in the area?

2013-12-19T08:48:29-05:00

I'll admit I haven’t been following things in the pacific too closely lately, as works been pretty busy for me, but I stumbled across this story yesterday (shocking I hadn't come across it on the major media sources until now) and it got me thinking. Do you guys believe we have a strong enough stance with our potential advisories, and are showing strong enough commitment to our current interests/allies in this area?

It seems that foreign nations snubbing there nose at the US has been the theme of the year, but this story in particular really had me thinking. If I understand the situation correctly, the Chinese Navy vessels tried to force the USS Cowpens to stop dead in the Ocean. I am no navy man, but I can't imagine being at a dead stop is a favorable position to be in with potential advisories nearby.

I've also heard of China's new "Air Defense Zone" right over those contested islands, and read that they have sent fighter aircraft to "escort" American and Japanese aircraft from the area in the past weeks.

What do you believe would be an appropriate response to this passive aggressive belligerence towards the US in the area? What should the ROE be for aircraft and Naval vessels, and how far do you guys see this escalation going?

Last question and I know I am asking kind of a lot for a single post, but what do you think the US/Chinese response would have been had this situation gone down differently. If there had been a collision or if the US Ship had been forced to stop or fire upon the Chinese?

http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/12/18/us-china-usa-ships-idUSBRE9BH03M20131218

Response by SFC Josh Watson made Dec 19 at 2013 8:52 AM

2013-12-19T08:52:35-05:00

I feel like it's only a matter of time before we get involved in some sort of action in the Pacific theater. My last S2 is doing a great deal of study on this and we've had some lengthy discussions on the subject. At this point in time I think we are doing all we can through multinational training; Rising Thunder with the Japanese, Tallisman Saber with the Austrailians, Purple Dragon with the British and other training opportunities.

Response by SMSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 19 at 2013 9:54 AM

2013-12-19T09:54:14-05:00

Sometimes we do not have many options when it comes to the
position we are required to take due to ground truths. In reference to the article it reads as if
there were good communications established and this situation probably
developed as both sides played their “cards” and observed the tactics of the
other. Each side was probably very
careful to avoid triggers which would have resulted in self-defense ROEs being
met. Both sides were playing the game;
either could have exited should they have decided to do so. There
are many states that have established ADIZs including ourselves; there is
nothing important about it. It is being
used on the political front by all sides; but only because it can be spun to
make people think it is akin to claiming ownership.

Can’t discuss ROE; but I am of the opinion that
they are simply engaging us in the same manner we have engaged other
threats. Our response must be to find a
pressure point and make a change to their cost/benefit analysis. There will be no escalation or “misunderstandings”
that were not intended.