US Carrier Strike Group deploys to the South China Sea

The U.S. just sent a carrier strike group to confront China
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By David Larter, Navy Times4:26 p.m. EST March 3, 2016

The U.S. Navy has dispatched a small armada to the South China Sea.

The carrier John C. Stennis, two destroyers, two cruisers and the 7th Fleet flagship have sailed into the disputed waters in the last 24 hours, according to military officials. The carrier strike group is the latest show of force in the tense region, with the U.S. asserting that China is militarizing the region to guard its excessive territorial claims.

Stennis is joined in the region by the cruisers Antietam and Mobile Bay, and the destroyers Chung-Hoon and Stockdale. The command ship Blue Ridge, the floating headquarters of the Japan-based 7th Fleet, is also in the area, en route to a port visit in the Philippines, and Stennis deployed from Washington State on Jan. 15.

Read the rest of the article here: http://www.navytimes.com/story/mili...e-group-deployed-to-south-china-sea/81270736/

 

Finally all of our allies were like :0o0:

The Chinese are pushing it too far with all of their air bases, radar stations and SAM sites. They just blocked the Fillipinos from Jackson Island and with in a matter of years will have firmly established their 9 dash line claims. This is a good move but it maybe too late. Are we going to actually confront the Chinese or is this just to tell our allies that we tried?

 

In this case(Obama),the latter.

 

I'll be honest, I haven't been following the SCS situation as closely as perhaps I'd need too to have an in-depth conversation here. What is considered a "confrontation?"

I should think military action, even limited conflict or skirmishes are off limits due to their potential to spiral out of control quickly, so what's being proposed?

@Cossack25A1 what'd you like to see from the Americans in regards to China?

I also echo T-123456's sentiment that this should have been done sooner, though I understand the caution in not to cause a spark that'd ignite this tinderbox. It's already a contentious situation, perhaps caution is more important that action?

I'd like to see the US agree to arm Taiwan and the Philippines with more modern weapons, and to see the US open up to sales to Vietnam, which has been interested in MPA's like older P-3s or even sales of the P-8. Anything to gain leverage with China and right the balance away from China's favor.

 

Well,this Carrier Strike Group could patrol the Filipino ''corridor'' to and around the atol and make sure no Chinese ships try to harrase the Filipino ships and thus,make a statement.