China confirms attendance at U.S.-hosted naval exercises

Reuters ^ | 6/9/14 | Unknown

[TangledUpInBlue]

China on Monday confirmed that it will participate for the first time in a major U.S.-hosted naval drill this month, sending four ships including a destroyer and frigate, even as deep military distrust persists between the two countries.

Beijing's agreement to join the drills comes at a moment of heightened tension in the disputed East and South China Seas, and growing unease in the United States over China's rapid military buildup and its cyber capabilities.

The Rim of the Pacific exercise, known as RIMPAC, is billed as the world's largest international maritime exercise, with 22 nations and more than 40 ships and submarines participating the last time it was held off Hawaii in 2012.

Not all the participants are treaty allies with the United States. Last year's participants included Russia and India.

[TangledUpInBlue]

Good or bad thing? The reality is, China is an ally of the US. They are one of our biggest trading partners and while the relationship isn't perfect, it can be more good than bad.

[SgtHooper]

Trade does not make one an ally. Similar to a drug dealer and drug user. Allies? Not.

[windcliff]

Don’t sink my battleship.

[DoughtyOne]

Is it a good thing to have your enemy learn your methods?

Gee, let me think about it...

[Jack Hydrazine]

Was Japan a trading ally with the US before it bombed Pearl Harbor?

[sten]

hey, I know.. let’s give chinas new navy some experience in deep blue exercises as well as live exposure with experienced navies so they can better understand their limitations

just brilliant

why? because you can’t ship experience via T-1 from Los alamos

[skeeter]

China is no ally of the US - China is allies with certain US businesses who no longer consider themselves American.

Big difference.

[ifinnegan]

I think you’re more like tangled up in red..

[Paulie]

This sort of thing exceeds my limits of understanding of global politics. Is there a benefit to doing this? Or are these just games the elites play now and then?

[dfwgator]

Yamamoto went to Harvard.

[Vigilanteman]

Excellent analogy. Further, in this case, the drug dealer extends the user credit to continue their lifestyle.

[TangledUpInBlue]

I was wondering the same thing. What’s the benefit to the US?

[TangledUpInBlue]

Indeed.

[roadcat]

Was Japan a trading ally with the US before it bombed Pearl Harbor?

I think they were before the US cut off selling oil and other supplies to them. Sort of pissed them off.

[roadcat]

"… the US, Britain, and the Netherlands East Indies initiated oil and steel embargos against Japan in August 1941. The American oil embargo caused a crisis in Japan. Reliant on the US for 80% of its oil, the Japanese were forced to decide between withdrawaling from China, negotiating an end to the conflict, or going to war to obtain the needed resources elsewhere."

From "World War II Pacific: Moving Towards War" by Kennedy Hickman.