anyone surprised?
No. Well ... yes. That China has chosen this moment to show her hand so openly.
Previously, the Norks and Paks were playing with "borrowed knives". Now the Chinese don't care who knows they lent them out.
This augurs war.
Ozero better get busy refurbing Constellation, Kitty Hawk, and JFK, and finding a whole bunch of escorts in the Mothball Fleet he can bring out.
He'd also better do a couple of deals p.d.q. with the Japanese and Germans, to purchase and/or co-produce a flotilla of modern diesel-electric submarines to relieve the fast-attack boats he's going to need to move to WESTPAC.
“anyone surprised?”
Not me.