U.S. Proposes Reviving Naval Coalition to Balance China’s Expansion

http://www.nytimes.com/2016/03/03/w...n-balance-china-expansion.html?ref=world&_r=0

NEW DELHI — The chief of the United States Pacific Command, Adm. Harry B. Harris Jr., on Wednesday proposed reviving an informal strategic coalition made up of the navies of Japan, Australia, India and the United States, an experiment that collapsed a decade ago because of diplomatic protests from China.

The proposal was the latest in a series of United States overtures to India, a country wary of forming strategic alliances, to become part of a network of naval powers that would balance China’s maritime expansion.

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Well India is nervous due to Chinese claims on their soil-same as India's claims against China. Leftovers from their wars.
Chinese expansion, militarily, has them nervous as well.
India moved most of their navel assets to their East cost.
They are finalizing their nuclear triad with a nuke armed sub. Sure more will follow.
Thoughts are?

JANFU said:

http://www.nytimes.com/2016/03/03/w...n-balance-china-expansion.html?ref=world&_r=0



Well India is nervous due to Chinese claims on their soil-same as India's claims against China. Leftovers from their wars.
Chinese expansion, militarily, has them nervous as well.
India moved most of their navel assets to their East cost.
They are finalizing their nuclear triad with a nuke armed sub. Sure more will follow.
Thoughts are?

Click to expand...

I believe over the coming years and decades, as China eclipses the States economically, we will have no choice but to form alliances to counter her military might. Either that, or we will need to continue a path of choking domestic & social spending (as a percentage of GDP) in the name of our military. We're a long way from being their military underdog in terms of navy & air-force, but the trends are there. Just like they're building modern cities all over the place, they'll continue building a modern military.

A manufacturing economy has it's benefits, as can be seen by our ascendancy during and after WW-II! Giving it up has it's own costs, too.

Chomsky said:

I believe over the coming years and decades, as China eclipses the States economically, we will have no choice but to form alliances to counter her military might. Either that, or we will need to continue a path of choking domestic & social spending (as a percentage of GDP) in the name of our military. We're a long way from being their military underdog in terms of navy & air-force, but the trends are there. Just like they're building modern cities all over the place, they'll continue building a modern military.

A manufacturing economy has it's benefits, as can be seen by our ascendancy during and after WW-II! Giving it up has it's own costs, too.

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Your last line there pretty much says it all. China can also conscript any of their merchant or fishing ships for naval purposes. What they don't have technologically they make up for in just numbers and mass.
There have been some proposals for a few more ships in the region. But we only have so many and with the money destroyers and carriers etc I see them building some more but not a lot more.
It makes sense to have a coalition with Japan, Philippines, Australia, Vietnam and South Korea etc..

Chomsky said:

I believe over the coming years and decades, as China eclipses the States economically, we will have no choice but to form alliances to counter her military might. Either that, or we will need to continue a path of choking domestic & social spending (as a percentage of GDP) in the name of our military. We're a long way from being their military underdog in terms of navy & air-force, but the trends are there. Just like they're building modern cities all over the place, they'll continue building a modern military.

A manufacturing economy has it's benefits, as can be seen by our ascendancy during and after WW-II! Giving it up has it's own costs, too.

Click to expand...

The US has no choice now. Defence costs rise fast than inflation. Roughly 4-5 % per years depenant upon the new technolgy needed.
India sees China as a possible threat.
Now there have been many arguments over the Chinese claims in the SC Seas. Those are now at the Hague.

UN tribunal at The Hague to rule on rival claims to South China Sea islands | World news | The Guardian

Beijing refuses to recognise the authority of the permanent court of arbitration (PCA) in The Hague, the UN-appointed tribunal that adjudicates in international disputes over maritime territory, in this issue. China has stated: “It will neither accept nor participate in the arbitration unilaterally initiated by the Philippines.”

In October, however, the PCA ruled that: “Both the Philippines and China are parties to the convention [on the law of the sea] and bound by its provisions on the settlement of disputes.”

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China is a signatory to the Law of the Seas convention. But they have claimed the whole of the SC Sea in there nine dotted line map shown below
View attachment 67198383

Not sure but Islands that are found to be Chinese are not entitled to the 200 mile extension.
Also note how China's claim crosses into other countries territorial waters

Overview - Convention & Related Agreements

The ruling from the Hague is expected this spring-or so.
So everyone waits.
PS- Montecresto is up to date on this and the various arguments - for and against