Now they're acting like Putin. I guess the USA has to figure out whether we really can let our international dollar go, and the global order we lead, and just retreat here at home so long as we don't get a great depression out of it..
or..
US has to start responding to these "tests" from various "adversaries."
China Deploys Submarine Near Vietnam Oil Rig, 86 Vessels Now Present
With the additional deployment of a submarine and a missile ship, there are now 86 Chinese vessels accompanying the oil rig's installation in Vietnam's Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). Local news reports that 3 Chinese military ships are surrounding a Vietnamese marine police vessel this morning and water cannon use continues against Vietnamese ships. We addressed the who, what, where, when and how of China’s HD-981 oil rig foray into Vietnamese waters here but, as we discuss below, the enduring question, as with many of China’s recently provocative actions in the Asia-Pacific, remains why?
Via The Diplomat,
Why Did China Set Up an Oil Rig Within Vietnamese Waters?
Why now and why Vietnam?
The enduring question, as with many of China’s provocative actions in the Asia-Pacific, remains why? The opacity of China’s internal decision-making processes makes it rather difficult to conclusively answer that question, but a good amount of evidence suggests that the oil rig crisis with Vietnam was manufactured to test the mettle of ASEAN states and the United States. It gives Beijing an opportunity to gauge the international response to China asserting its maritime territorial claims.
http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2014-05-13/china-deploys-submarine-near-vietnam-oil-rig-86-vessels-now-present
In other news, Russia and China talking about getting the dollar dumped:
Russia Holds "De-Dollarization Meeting": China, Iran Willing To Drop USD From Bilateral Trade
http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2014-05-13/russia-holds-de-dollarization-meeting-china-iran-willing-drop-usd-bilateral-trade
Love or hate Uncle Sam, fact is that this country has kept peace in the world for a long time now. If we do nothing, there will be regional wars, annexations, a big mess all over the place and that affects us here at home too.