China's Increasing Belligerent Behavior

     With the recent horrible tragedy in Orlando taking up much of the news headlines, one hardly hears of any other "incidents" from around the world.  That is as it should be expected.  The senseless and vicious terror attack in Orlando by a sick, misguided homegrown Islamic Terrorist does indeed overshadow other occurrences from around the world, until something even more horrid takes place elsewhere!  But there has been a steady increase of certain incidents involving China that should not be overlooked, but has been more or less shoved back to the back burner by the news media.
     China, in recent times, has become increasingly more belligerent in its behavior towards its neighbors over territorial water disputes.  This increase in belligerence is directly related to China's increasing economic and military power.  The more powerful they become, the more belligerent their behavior.  It is doubtful that China would go to war with anyone over these territorial water disputes, but they are "pushing the envelop," so-to-speak, to see just how far they can push! 
     Throughout the years there have been periodic news reports about China's dispute with Japan over some tiny islands in East China Sea.  Occasionally one would hear about a Chinese fishing boat that supposedly strayed into foreign waters.  But there was nothing consistent about these incidents, and they were not increasing in numbers.  But lately that has changed, and to add to the problem, the Chinese military has stepped-in to intervene in many instances.
     A few days ago there was a brief news report that a Chinese spy ship was trailing U.S. and Japanese warships that were engaged in exercises.  That may not seem like much, but just a few years ago that would have been unthinkable.  The same applies to numerous incidents involving Chinese warplanes buzzing US ships and US planes.  In some cases they came dangerously close, at one point as close as 50 feet off the bow of a US ship!  This is all tied-in with the increasing number of incidents involving Chinese fishing vessels being seized in foreign waters around East China Sea.  Both South Korea and Philippines recently seized a bunch of Chinese fishing trawlers off its shores, within the 20 mile limit!  Whereas in the past, the incidents were settled by a quiet apology from the Chinese Foreign Ministry to the effect that "it won't happen again."  Now the response is quite different.
     In the most recent incident in Philippines where Chinese vessels were seized fishing within five miles of Philippines' coastline, the Chinese Foreign Ministry demanded that Philippines release the boats and the crew immediately.  The spokesman for the Chinese Foreign Ministry sarcastically commented that some countries arbitrarily set their boundaries disregarding international law!  All the countries that share the East China Sea with China have complained in the International Courts about China's behavior.  China has extended its boundaries way beyond international line, claiming that they had a right to extend the boundaries due to their extensive coastline.  But at the same time, it does not appear to recognize the boundaries of its neighboring countries!
     It is, in a way, understandable that the Chinese fishing fleets are getting more and more desperate for new fishing waters.  They have the world's largest population to feed, a population that is not only increasing in size, but increasing in wealth almost daily and demanding more and more sea food delicacies.  The Chinese fishing fleet is owned by the Chinese government, so it is a part of the Chinese merchant marine force and they operate under orders from the government!  It is not a fishing fleet like in other countries, privately owned.  Although the Chinese fishing fleet operates under the auspices of some companies, these companies are government owned.  So it is in the best interest of Chinese government to see that their fishing fleet operates far and wide unmolested.
     This new belligerent behavior by the Chinese has not really surfaced until more recent times.  Remember in an earlier blog I mentioned that China was now a part of a new Axis with Russia and North Korea.  That was not an exaggeration.  China's current behavior, buzzing of our ships and planes by their war planes, is strongly reminiscent of Russia's behavior, and yes, North Korea's behavior as well.  Except that in case of North Korea, they are just as liable to launch a missile or fire a burst from one of their fighter planes!
     The situation has changed dramatically in the last decade.  It wasn't long ago that we ruled the Pacific, despite the presence of Russian submarines.  But now, with the combined force of Russian and Chinese (as well as North Korean) submarine force and the change in behavior, we no longer can sail the Pacific unmolested.  All of the countries that have shorelines in East China Sea have asked us to continue to patrol the Pacific, to provide them with security against China!  China, on the other hand, no longer sits back and allows us to operate in what they consider "their" waters.  They threaten our ships physically with their planes and additionally, verbally threaten our presence in East China Sea.
     It is unlikely that this situation will develop into a war, but it is also entirely possible that in some instance, in one of the countries, someone will cut loose with a machinegun and blood will be shed.  There may even develop a skirmish of sorts.  Remember the border dispute with Vietnam back in 1979?  Something like that is entirely possible.  It is only hoped that when something like that happens, we will not be involved!