Josh Rogin, Bloomberg: China's Military Isn't Worried About Obama
Chinese military officials attending a major security conference in Singapore over the weekend made clear that they have no intention of halting their aggressive activities in the South China Sea, and they are confident that U.S. President Barack Obama is not going to be able to stop them.
At the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, several senior officials from the People’s Liberation Army made a rare appearance to mingle with leaders of Asian and Western governments, think tanks and corporations. It was a rare chance to hear what Chinese military leaders really think, through both public and private interactions. The main takeaway for many of us Westerners present was that People's Liberation Army is feeling confident, and it has little respect for an Obama administration that talks big about confronting China but has yet to lay out a clear strategy for doing so.
WNU Editor: Among my Chinese friends and contacts .... no one is concerned on what the U.S. military or government will do. Their focus is on what will their neighbors (Vietnam, Philippines, etc.) do next. To the Chinese .... the U.S. is thousands of miles away and this entire crisis will become a non-issue in a few years .... with the Chinese claiming sovereignty over the entire South China Sea. What's my take .... never underestimate (or assume) on what the U.S. may do next.
Update: Maybe they should start worrying now .... US preparing to face down China in the South China Sea - while locals expect 'bonanza of riches' from return of American sailors (The Independent).
Hello Subic Bay!
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