U.S., Allies Fear Conflict With China Following Maritime Changes (link from Drudgereport)

US News ^ | November 21, 2018 | Paul D. Shinkman, Senior National Security Writer

[cba123]

A LITTLE NOTICED organizational change in China's maritime patrols is causing increasing anxiety among Western military officials and their allies in the region, who fear Beijing is seeking new leverage to advance its goals and raising the likelihood that an accidental encounter could escalate into conflict. The U.S. confirmed earlier this year that China has reorganized its coast guard to serve as a military branch rather than answer to law enforcement authorities.

Militarizing the formerly civilian organization provides China with the firepower to harass and intimidate vessels from other countries who dispute China's claims to waterways. The change, which Beijing denies, signals not only that China wishes to further its ambitions for its neighborhood, including seizing contested disputed territory and access to natural resources in East and South China seas but that it is becoming a more potent foe internationally.

"China still remains very adventurous, and [it is] expanding its actions into the East China Sea and South China Sea," a senior Japanese government official told U.S. News on the condition of anonymity. "We are still carefully studying the changes of the Chinese coast guard status".

The reorganization comes as Chinese President Xi Jinping has consolidated his power and positioned himself as the singular head of that chain of command. China has also begun mirroring how the U.S. military organizes itself through what it calls "joint operations" – or service branches working together in exercises or military activities – making it more effective across a broader swathe of regions and missions.

(Please see link for full article)

[cba123]

The article ends interestingly with this:

"By contrast, a state-run newspaper in China printed a commentary this week calling for a greater civilian presence in its reclaimed islands in order to tamp down international concerns about China's ambitions. A report in Reuters quoted China's influential Study Times, which noted the "potential risk of war" in the region.

"Facilities on the reefs and islands of the South China Sea should be more civilian and less military," according to the paper."

[cba123]

https://www.usnews.com/news/world/articles/2018-11-21/chinas-aggressive-military-reorganization-prompts-fears-of-conflict

[ZULU]

I try not to read the Fudge Report. It raises my blood pressure.

I read Liberty Daily, the conservative alternative to the Fudge Report.

[cba123]

Thanks, now I’ve saved that link.

:)

[JParris]

China is a communist regime top to bottom. The same guy(s) call the shots for all, military and civilian alike.

So, I don’t see a hair on fire issue here. Just more hand wringing and woe is me.

[Vlad The Inhaler]

These are the same allies who appease muslims in the hope that by not offending them the muslims won’t kill them so many of the appeasers.

[SunkenCiv]

Thanks cba123.