Indo-Pacific containment of China

WION: How the US is preparing for China war- Typhoon Missiles

Europe responds to rising Chinese pressure in Indo-Pacific

Link to recent NHK video above- no comments or cross posting allowed apparently. The video describes recent European state participation in joint military exercises in the Far East in conjunction with US/Japan Indo-Pacific perspectives. Then a former Japanese Ambassador to the US instructs China on how to behave while failing to comment on relevant top Japanese officials' visits to Taiwan to pledge Japan's support for its former colony. The former ambassador claims Chinese forces operating in Japan's contiguous zone is threatening. Don't US forces do the same to China?

Russian Il-38 violates Japan's territorial airspace according to Japanese claim. Japanese aircraft intercept and drop warning flares.

The flight pattern shown for the intercepted Il-38 suggests the Russian aircraft was conducting ASW operations of some type. Perhaps the Russians intended to send a message. Speaking of submarines-

What the Japanese intend to enforce along with the US is their definition of the maritime domains in the Indo-Pacific. South Korea will regret getting sucked into this Indo-Pacific frame. First of all, Japan claims Dokdo in the center virtually of the West Sea/Sea of Japan, which is Korean territory. Secondly, South Korea doesn't really have a dog in the Taiwan dispute the US and Japan have been exacerbating. Both Japan and the US have occupied Taiwan in the past. Also Japan claims the Senkaku Islets which both Taiwan and China claim as their territory. At the same time, South Korea really has no colorable interest in the SCS disputes between respective ASEAN nations and China that don't involve either the US or Japan; the disputes are mostly pretextual for both the US and Japan to expand their military presence in the region.

Japan is in the process of doubling its defense budget, and converting its so called self defense forces to offensive military operations anywhere it deems appropriate. Ostensibly, this would be "in defense of" its alliance with the US or other partners. By the same token, the former Japanese ambassador asserts that Chinese forces shouldn't operate outside their own "territory." Yet Japan seeks to expand it influence and extend its military power throughout the Indo-Pacific. Others may not recognize the pattern but the US-Japan-European power co-dominion extension in the Asian littoral countries is a repetition of patterns that led to WWII in the Pacific. It is little more than a plan to contain China, once described in a WSJ article as a plan to "strangle China." The former ambassador repeatedly asks the question concerning China's intent. One might ask of the same of the US and Japan. The assumption is that everything on their side is being done in good faith, in accordance with the so called "rules based order." It appears that the rules based order is whatever they say it is.

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QMS's picture

.
For the life of me
can not understand
the provocations of US / NATO military forces in that region.
This is not about containment of North Korea (relatively small force)
so much as threatening China (for obvious financial fears).
The consequence is the military development of both nations to
protect their interests. Blinken and Lloyd are not content to just poke
the bear, but opt to rattle the dragon as well.

The US insecurity apparatus is being set-up for a major failure.
We will suffer the consequences of this stupidity.

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truth is considered foreign influence, world peace is a threat to national security

soryang's picture

@QMS

It's really just my impression because the information available is not as well laid out as I would like to see in US/western media. Who could expect that? Go with whatever signs and indications that appear significant. This is an technique I learned from an old warrant I met 50 years ago almost to the day. I'm wary of the China, Vietnam syndrome all over again. James Bradley and Stephen Kinzer had it exactly right. Step 1: racism, prejudice, imperial mission; media frenzy. Step 2: Suppress all other perspectives, including persecution of those with a better understanding; Step 3: Go to war; Step 4: Millions die; Step 5: How did that happen? Denialism and more suppression of conflicting accounts and assessments.

I heard Tom Cotton grilling some poor Chinese American citizen the other day. It sounded like he was reading a Joe McCarthy series of questions from the HUAC days. Are you now or have you ever been...(Chinese)? I am sure his script was deliberately written that way to mobilize the worst prejudices and unreasoning fears of the public. I found it so offensive. This is the rule in the media messaging about China and Chinese Americans, it appeals to the worst instincts of the ill informed. The same applies to the other slaughters and conflicts already ongoing that others here cover so well.

This is related to something you mentioned a week ago:

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語必忠信 行必正直

QMS's picture

@soryang
.
.
.
Russia is very close to Alaska.
Saw where the US military is scrambling troopsinto the Intuit territory
(for all the good that will do)? Think the Pentagon has gone
off the deep end trying to entertain the neocon fantasy plans. Too many fronts,
too few backs. Only see trouble and more trouble. Unless someone finds reverse.

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studentofearth's picture

@QMS @QMS who conquered most of the North American continent. China was and is the source of great wealth for Europe - Go West Young Man eventually one reaches China. The ruling class kept bringing their own labor force indentured servants from Europe and rest of the world providing refugees and slaves. USA ruling class after obtaining control of the US began seriously moving Westward to obtain more world territory from British and other European nations control.

Korea is Japan's gateway to controlling China. It is why Theodore Roosevelt did not honor Treaty obligations when Japan attacked, killed and removed the monarchy in August 1910. Japanese went on to oust many European colonizers from East Asia. Franklin Roosevelt his cousin then worked on obtaining the expanded territory claimed by the Japanese. He also created the Office of Strategic Services (OSS) to provide intelligence and fighting force outside of Military command structure, State Department control and British influence. Intent was to report directly to the President's staff.

(note timeline for relevant intelligence services: Roosevelt created OSS. Truman disbanded and divvy upped responsibility and assets between Army, Navy, State Department. CIA created within 2 years and first four directors were alternating Navy and Army, Eisenhower appointed Allen Dulles CIA and his brother John Foster Dulles to State Department. They were the grandsons of John Foster, a lawyer who served as secretary of state under President Benjamin Harrison, and nephews of Robert Lansing, who also served as secretary of state, under President Woodrow Wilson. Makes one wonder what was discussed at family gatherings for the holidays. John F Kennedy fired Allen Dulles.)

Chiang Kai-shek, Republic of China leader, prevented USA from gaining legal control of Taiwan and many other Islands after the end of WII. Mao Zedong, People's Republic of China, came to the aid of Korea when US was using their influence at United Nations to obtain total control of the area.

Source on Korea and Taiwan by Zhong Xiangyu

Taiwan - Ep. 9: Taiwan Separatism pt. 1: The Origins (1:11 min)

Korea - The Korean War: A Civilian's Recollection">The Korean War: A Civilian's Recollection (38 min) amazing story she lived to tell

Korea resent past and present - Ep. 6: Meeting "Douglas MacArthur" w/ Mario Cavolo (1:38 min) includes additional details from Zhong Xiangyu's Great Aunt.

It is the first conflict United Nation manipulation was used to meet specific goal of conquest. 4 millions lives were lost. The cycle keeps being repeated.

edit: fix link

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Still yourself, deep water can absorb many disturbances with minimal reaction.
--When the opening appears release yourself.

QMS's picture

@studentofearth
.
.
we do know the empire game plan as it is being played-out
the realization that this is a long train running does not make it
any better ~

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studentofearth's picture

@QMS separation of events. Nothing to see here, trust the experts to keep you safe and keep you informed.

It is the children and grandchildren of the events shaping post WWII rediscovering the narratives of various sides of history and challenging the existing propaganda. They ran into the mismatch of official history and family stories or into the wall of silence and became curious.

We are lucky to live in a time of easy self-publication and worldwide networking. They are sharing their research and understanding. Watching this unfold to a larger audience at a quickening rate makes me hopeful for the future.

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Still yourself, deep water can absorb many disturbances with minimal reaction.
--When the opening appears release yourself.

soryang's picture

@studentofearth @studentofearth

Thanks SOE. There's a lot to digest there, but I'll try to contain myself.

In July 1907, after Resident General Ito Hirobumi had forced King Gojong to abdicate, Japan disbanded the Korean army, and took over internal control of Korea, abandoning all pretense of Korean autonomy.

One could argue that Korea already lost its sovereignty to in 1905 after the "Treaty" of Eulsa was signed by the "traitors of Eulsa." The monarchy was officially abolished by the Japanese annexation in 1910.

On 21 January 1919, Gojong died suddenly at Deoksugung at the age of 66. He was virtually a hostage of the Japanese for all that time. It was believed that the Japanese poisoned him.

In fact, one could say, that the Korean monarch was at the mercy of the Japanese more or less, from the time Queen Min was assassinated by the Japanese in 1895.

Thanks for your comments SOF. I had seen the first Xiangyu episode you linked to, and I'm motivated to watch it again. (I couldn't get the second link to work). I started watching the discussion with the Mario Cavolo discussion. Xiangyu has an interesting family history that I didn't know. Indeed most people who survived the tumultuous events in the region in the 20th Century I'm sure had experiences that would be interesting to hear.

I found a book about China Taiwan relations during the time Taiwan was a Japanese colony, and started reading that.

Imperial Gateway: Colonial Taiwan and Japan's Expansion in South China and Southeast Asia, 1895ñ1945

I found this also:

Since opium was transported mainly by ship, it is not at all surprising that shipbuilding and carpentry became avenues through which many prominent families found their way into the trade. Among these, there was one that would become exceptionally renowned: the Delano clan.

The Blue-Blood Families That Made Fortunes in the Opium Trade

(edit typos)

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studentofearth's picture

@soryang Read the title of the Nation article last winter - with your prompt looked a little deeper, wow is it detailed.

I get muddled on Korean history when working for memory - the recap was helpful. I found when working with Korean War vets they would slip back into a PTSD shock phase faster than any other vet group from other conflicts. Other than the TV program MASH I don't recall general acknowledgement or discussion of the Korean Conflict.

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Still yourself, deep water can absorb many disturbances with minimal reaction.
--When the opening appears release yourself.

soryang's picture

Where does the military expansion end?

The US military presence in northern Australia is growing, including increased US defence spending and international participation in joint-force exercises.
Experts say Indonesia, one of Australia's closest Asian neighbours, is concerned the US's expanded presence could increase tensions in the region.
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