Cid_Yama wrote:And the US remains an outlaw nation, for it's failure to comply with the courts previous rulings. To start jumping up and down about China stating they will do the same is actually quite humorous.
Well, Reagan was fighting communism. So what is China opposing, democratic capitalism?
Secondly -- the South China Sea is a MUCH bigger swath of resource-rich valuable ocean, compared to the Nicaragua situation:
AND China has built / is building large artificial island military bases. AND China wants it all to be an exclusive air control zone, so they'd pretty much own it. US never did all that, off Nicaragua.
Ultimately -- we'll have to see what the world thinks. It's up to them. Europe, India, Philippines, Vietnam, Japan, Australia.
Here's something funny -- China is participating in US led naval exercises, right now:
US Navy Rim of The Pacific (RIMPAC) War Games, Coopting China, Isolating Russia?
The Rim of the Pacific biennial naval exercises taking place near Hawaii under the auspices of the US Navy have caused some comment due to the inclusion of China. However joint military exercises between the USA and China are part of a co-operation of long duration.
The U.S. Navy states of the exercises: “Twenty-six nations, 45 ships, five submarines, more than 200 aircraft, and 25,000 personnel will participate in the biennial Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) exercise scheduled June 30 to Aug. 4, in and around the Hawaiian Islands and Southern California.” The theme is “Capable, Adaptive, Partners.”
Notable is the exclusion of Russia, while Russia’s BRIC partners were invited: Brazil, India, China. China has attended RIMPAC since 2014. Russia had participated in 2012 and 2013, but has not been re-invited. However, the USA had been urging China to participate since 2010. Indian analyst Vijay Sakhuja, although maintaining that the relationship between the USA and China is one of mutual suspicion, stated of 2014 RIMPAC and China’s participation that the USA wanted to “enhance engagements with the People’s Liberation Army Navy,” dispel suspicions that there was a containment policy towards China, and to “enmesh the Chinese into multilateral naval engagements.”[2]
So far from being seen as an enduring antagonist, the USA continues to regard China as a potential ally in the containment of Russia and a pivotal factor in a global economy, and beyond that a world order. The USA’s outlook towards China is different from its outlook towards Russia. The present Chinese regime is one that can be worked with, and even partnered.
http://www.globalresearch.ca/us-sponsored-rim-of-the-pacific-rimpac-war-games-coopting-china-isolating-russia/5535240
That's actually all strategic / foreign policy brilliance.
Keeping China in these war games does two things:
* Keeps China engaged / we actually do want them for a partner.
* BUT if we're headed for conflict, then by doing these games the US gets to see Chinese capability, and test their stuff out against ours, and learn from that.
Ultimately, I think this will all work out. China's pretty pragmatic. Long term US strategy is just to SHAPE China, and manage its rise, and the US keep its position as head of the Pacific.
The US really does WANT China to step up in the world, and be a global order security power. And take on responsibilities, and then the US could do less (which is fair.. why do we have to fight in the ME all the time?).
The US is offering China two different paths, and the US has a backstop of allies ringing China all around.. China can join us, and we want them to.. or China can fight us, which makes no sense.
The US is prepared for either contingency. It's all very smart strategy.
Ultimately -- my hunch is China will choose the responsible global security partner path.