China

[dawg80]

South Korea has announced the construction of a large, guided-missile vessel they are classifying as a "battlecruiser." Expected to exceed 20,000 tons. It will have rapid-fire cannons, including two heavier guns that can be used for shore bombardment. The ship is being designed to specifically deal with North Korea and the threats it presents.

Not to be outdone, Japan has also announced the construction of two battlecruisers, each 20,000 tons+ but geared more towards being anti-missile and anti-aircraft and expected to be stationed in the East China Sea as a deterrent to Chicom aggression. Japan is completing the conversion of her two helicopter carriers to aircraft carriers, the F-35s. Japan has launched an attack submarine, with a diesel-electric power plant which makes it more stealthy than a nuclear-powered sub. Japan expects both new battlecruisers to be in service no later than the end of 2028.

By comparison a standard destroyer, like the AEGIS class, is about 10,000 tons displacement.

[dawg80]

Japan just launched a new submarine, the Taigei class, which took only 4 years from design to launch to complete. That is amazingly fast. How did the Japs accomplish this? Well, they went back to old technology, namely using a diesel-electric power plant. They are easy to build and maintain, relatively cheap too, and most importantly these engines are very quiet. Japan has 22 submarines in their fleet, no nuclear-powered crafts because they are not trying to project power around the globe, but rather play defense around their home islands. These latest subs are armed with torpedoes and Harpoon anti-ship cruise missiles. Needless to say, the Chicoms are not happy about this.

[dawg80]

This marks the 500th time, said a US State Department spokesman, referring to still another stern warning of "dire consequences" issued by the Chicoms over US aid to Taiwan, or official expressions of support, or joint operations. Dating back to 1982 when the Reagan administration ramped up military aid to Taiwan, the Chicoms have bristled every time the US sold, or in a few cases, gave Taiwan military equipment. There have been thousands and thousands of comments made by this Chicom official or that one, but official statements of protest from the Bejing government has now reached 500 in the 40-year period.

The latest silly proclamation from the Chicoms includes the language: the US has now crossed a red line and will face lethal consequences. To which the State Department and US military officials yawned.

This latest event is an $82 million sale of mostly spare parts, and some equipment, to Taiwan.

[dawg80]

GAME CHANGER!!! If evil, looney President Xi needed a reason not to attempt a military invasion of Taiwan, he has one. The Rapid Dragon cruise missile! Developed by Lockheed-Martin (LMT) this missile would obliterate the Chicom navy and support vessels, while at the same time utterly destroying its bases, and one version is an air-to-air missile vastly superior to anything the Chicoms have and capable of being stealthy to their detection technology. And, the US military in cooperation with Taiwan and Japan has developed and is perfecting a delivery system whereby cargo planes could deploy the Rapid Dragon missiles in bunches.

Mind your P's and Q's Xi, and be a good boy, unlike ole Putin.

[dawg80]

Well, Xi is not behaving...no surprise there. The Chicoms have officially annexed the Bolshoy region of Russia, an area of fertile farmland, rich in resources and clean water. This area has been in dispute between the two countries for 100 years. In 2008 Putin offered a compromise and in some bizarre ritual where only he signed the agreement and the Chicoms refused to even attend the ceremony, Putin announced on Russian TV the matter had been settled. Apparently not. Only now the Chicoms have settled it, they have seized the region. This is no surprise as the Chicoms have "officially" laid claim to many other nations' territory, especially, Taiwan (all of it), India, Nepal, Malayasia, as well as territorial waters. Only all these others have officially rebuked the Chicoms and are standing firm against them. Thus far, the pathetic Putin has remained silent on this land grab. Opposition leaders in Russia have gone public demanding that Putin do something, say something.

Half of China is a vast, desert wasteland and with a growing population and designs on becoming a global economic power, which they already are, but Xi wants to expand his influence, China needs land that is actually fertile and rich in resources, not the least of which is drinking water.

[dawg80]

US deploys two drone ships. Part of the 7th Fleet HQ in Japan, the USS Ranger and a sister ship, not named in the article, are ready for duty. The Ranger is 190 feet long and capable of carrying torpedoes, depth chargers and an array of missiles, although its first missions will be surveillance. Using AI and remote control the Ranger will operate autonomously. The US has six such drone ships, four still in testing and final fitting. These drone ships have the capacity for human crews too, but only 16 sailors are needed as most of the ship is computer-controlled.

The world is quickly approaching an all-robot military and Skynet (from the Terminator movies) will be in control of it all...

[dawg80]

While the world is focused on Ukraine, the Chicoms continue to violate international law and get away with it. Most recently the Chicoms have been harassing Filipino fishing fleets in international waters, which the Chicoms claim as their territorial waters. Chinese coast guard cutters have been harassing fishing vessels by speeding toward them and only at the last possible second veering off to avoid a collision, in the process they usually hook the fishing nets and drag them off destroying them. The Chicoms have also deployed bouys with heavy chains and nets to block the fishing vessels. The Filipino coast guard clears the bouys, but within 24 hours they are back again. Recently a Chicom ship fired warning shots across the bow of a Filipino coast guard cutter.

And while tensions rise in the South China Sea, the Biden administration has decided to appease their commie friends in Beijing by ordering US Navy vessels to stay away from the "disputed" area. About 6 months ago two US ships approached the area and radioed the Filipino coast guard asking if they required assistance, knowing full well the nearby Chicoms were monitoring their transmissions. It worked and the Chicom vessels quickly departed the area. But now it appears the Bidenites have grown scared or more likely, are adhering to Xi's orders to back off, since Xi paid the Biden Crime Family $millions.

Just read a rather lengthy article on the current situation. As I posted previously, in the absence of leadership from the US re: China's aggressions, Japan, Australia, and to a more limited extent, India have stepped up and assumed the leadership role in the region. Now, the US just agreed to sell fighter jets to Vietnam, which is actually a good thing. Does seem strange to be "allying" with Vietnam, but we allied with Japan and Germany after WWII. The Chicoms, just like Russia, is hurting its own cause with these bullying tactics, creating enemies who see no choice but to bolster their militaries. Soon, we'll see Xi borrow the silly rhetoric of Putin and call this a "provocation." To which a certain poster will agree with and paint all these nations as conspirators trying to harm China.

Those of us with some sense can HOPE the Chicoms aren't as stupid as the Putinites and refrain from open conflict which will lead to a wider war, and where millions of innocent folks will be made to pay a heavy price. China still has the opportunity to alter its aggressive path and join the rest of the world in peaceful coexistence. I had the opportunity to travel to China twice, back in the 1990's, and to Hong Kong when it was still under British rule. What an awesome place and a great people. I met and worked with Chinese businessmen and found them to be so gracious, smart! and so longing to join the civilized world of international business, trade, and friendship. Have a good friend who is nearing the end of his career at an international bank in Hong Kong. He has been there 30+ years, married a local girl, and just loves it there. Unfortunately, most of the freedoms previously enjoyed by Hong Kong residents have been curtailed. He says they operate under tight controls of Beijing regulators, but they can and do conduct business as in the past.

Anyway, I hope and pray cooler heads prevail and a shooting war doesn't start in that region. No good will come from it.

[dawg80]

Taiwan has launched its first domestically-built submarine, the Hai Kun, displacing 2,600 tons. It, and seven more to follow, is an attack sub designed to engage surface vessels with torpedoes and anti-ship missiles. This is Taiwan's third sub joining two older subs built by the Dutch back in the 1980's. The two older subs will be retired once more of the Hai Kun class subs go on active duty. Japan has 16 subs designed to engage surface vessels, and 6 hunter-killers meant to engage enemy subs. The US has nearly 50 attack subs with various missions.

During a series of joint war games between the US, Japan, and Taiwan the most successful aspect of the scenarios involved allied subs sinking Chicom troop carriers, transports and amphibious landing ships. Instead of trying to engage Chinese escorts, like destroyers and light cruisers, the allied subs were successful by going straight for the Chicom transports thus thwarting any Chicom landing force on Taiwan.

[dawg80]

The US and India suffer a diplomatic setback. The newly elected prime minister of The Maldives pledges to do an about-face in favor of the Chicoms, contrary to the outgoing PM. Beijing is thrilled by these election results and has already announced they will place a navy base on the island nation. India, in particular, is both outraged and alarmed as they had just completed a military agreement with the current Maldives leadership. This could radically change the strategic and tactical situation in favor of the Chicoms as The Maldives sits astride important sea lanes of major international commerce and trade.

Back in Slovakia, the pro-Putin Robert Fico, just elected PM, is facing allegations and possible charges of election fraud and the opposition is accusing Russia of election tampering.

[dawg80]

Chicom sub lost, crew lost, all 55 officers and sailors, after it got caught in an anti-sub net in the Yellow Sea. The Chicoms are denying this, but British sources, including a British sub which routinely operates in the Yellow Sea, close to the Chinese coast, has reported the Chinese sub got snared by one of their own nets. Because the British sub "was not supposed to be there" they were unable/unwilling to reveal themselves and alert the Chicom navy of the incident. Experts say the crew died from lack of air when the batteries failed after 6 hours of being trapped.

Much like the Russians, Chinese military technology/equipment is MUCH INFERIOR to western systems. The sub in question is equal to 1960's western technology, and it was just launched into active service less than 5 years ago, as a "new" sub.

[dawg80]

India makes it official, telling the Chicoms they will not be joining their movement to replace the US dollar as the world's reserve currency. India wields a lot of economic power and influence, so this is a huge "whew! for us. If India had joined this movement, that would have meant that 2 of the top 5 largest economies would have been driving this, along with Brazil the 9th biggest, most of Africa, and most likely Indonesia the 16th largest. France(7th) expressed a "fence-sitting" position, and the Frogs would have jumped if it looked like the $dollar was going to be replaced.

Anyway, all moot now, as India was the lynchpin.

[dawg80]

Didn't take long for the Chicoms to respond. The very next day after India's official announcement of not joining China's plan (post above), they moved 100,000 troops to the disputed border with India. The Indians expected something like this and are moving an additional 68,000 soldiers to the border region. Both sides also sent fighter-bombers and helicopters to bases in the region. Tension between the two large neighbors has increased. Official India announcements emphasize a defensive posture saying they have no desire, interest, or intention of launching an offensive strike but will play defense with everything at their disposal. Beijing has made no announcements, but the movement of troops to the border is a definite message.

[dawg80]

The Chicoms continue their harassment of Filipino fishing vessels and even Filipino navy ships. Well, not just harassment, outright hostility! Yesterday a Chicom "ram" did just that, tried to ram a Filipino corvette which was just able to maneuver to avoid a serious collision, although the two ships did bump, causing minimal damage and no casualties. The Chicoms have converted an icebreaker into an offensive weapon, a "ram" designed to deliberately collide with a ship trying to sink it or seriously damage it. The Filipinos refrained from firing on the aggressive Chicom ship using both radio and loudspeakers to warn it away, but to no avail. The Filipino corvette responded to calls for assistance from some fishing vessels who had also managed to avoid being rammed by the much larger, and slower, Chicom assault ship. As an icebreaker this ship already has a very thick hull and apparently the Chicoms have reinforced it and mounted steel spears to punch holes in ships.

This is taking place in international waters in the South China Sea, in waters claimed as territorial by the Chinks but is recognized by the whole, rest of the world as international waters. This is nothing short of an act of war. Of course the Chicoms are trying to provoke the Filipinos into a shooting war to excuse their desired conflict with The Philippines and other regional nations. Before now the Chicoms have used smaller boats, sea-going tugs converted into harassment crafts and occasionally have sent a navy vessel, like a frigate, to try to scare the Filipino fishing fleet away from these shoals. But the Filipinos have, heretofore, stood their ground while not escalating the situation. The Filipinos are justified to use force to defend themselves, like firing on this ram, which is nothing but a military vessel with the demonstrated intent of attacking. Heck! they tried to ram a Filipino navy vessel! Tension is rising and something bad is going to happen. Of course, Sleepy Joe has his $200,000 check from the Chicoms and the Biden Crime Family have all received payments, so there is nothing this compromised administration will/can do. The Bidenites and their willing accomplices in the lamestream media, plus orchestrated protests, will condemn the Filipinos blaming them.

[dawg80]

US officials/observers say the Taiwanese army is woefully unprepared for any kind of extended conflict. Their standing, professional army is okay, but the reserves and those expected to be drafted, if needed, are unfit and under-trained. The Taiwan parliament just re-upped the mandatory 12-month service for all young men, and women volunteers, which provides training for those who would be called upon in the case of war. They had previously reduced it to a 4-month stint which the men themselves referred to as a "fun, summer camp," as proper training was not being conducted. Biden sent $80 million to Taiwan aimed at enhancing the training of the reserves, this to include entire battalions coming to the US to engage in rigorous training under the tutelage of US army drill sergeants.

Some folks balk at this "foreign aid" but it is money well-spent. Best thing for the world and especially for us, the US, is to deter the Chicoms from starting a shooting war. Nothing good will come from that and in terms of the treasury, we will spend exponentially more than a mere $80 million. Not to mention the human capital cost of a major war. By helping our regional partners to build up their militaries we are making it, well, impossible for the Chicoms to pick on a weakling, which is what bullies do.

[dawg80]

The Philippines have backed out of China's "road and belt" project after the Chicoms invested many $millions into its development in The Philippines, and now other regional countries are expected to follow the Filipinos' lead in that. Too bad, Chicoms, can't buy your victims so easily, so eat the losses.

Also, Japan and The Philippines just inked a mutual defense agreement which includes Japan selling state-of-the-art radar systems and selling "at cost" 12 brand new patrol boats, 2 of which are really corvettes. Of course the Chicoms hollered bloody murder claiming this escalates tensions. To which Japan and The Philippines replied, "bite me." Well, not so succinctly as that but the message is clear. Foreign minister of Japan on announcing this latest deal stated emphatically that the point is to maintain commerce and free passage for the world in the INTERNATIONAL WATERS that is the South China Sea. Good for them. Stand up to the bullies!