Tuesday, July 26, 2011

Spying is for me .... not for thee


Actually, there is a big difference between spying and surveillance, but this should be expected.
Two Chinese fighter jets crossed an unofficial dividing line in the Taiwan Strait late last month in pursuit of a US spy aircraft, according to defence sources in Taipei and Beijing.

The incident marked the first time in more than a decade that Chinese military aircraft have entered Taiwan’s side of the 180km-wide strait. According to Taiwan’s defence ministry, two Chinese Su-27 fighter jets briefly crossed the so-called “middle line” on June 29.
China feels it loses face every time we exercise our unique capabilities. They push too hard sometimes - but we aren't going to stop.
Admiral Mike Mullen, the chairman of the US joint chiefs of staff, told reporters in Washington that the US would "not be deterred from flying in international airspace". He said: "The Chinese would see us move out of there. We're not going to do that, from my perspective. These reconnaissance flights are important".
We like to watch and ponder. That is good.

One final side-bar; once again you have to go to the British press to get anything good on this. Our major media on such topics, in a word; blows.

21 comments:

Grumpy Old Ham said...

<span>once again you have to go to the British press to get anything good on this. Our major media on such topics, in a word; blows.</span>

They are too interested in covering the latest Florida judicial circus, or the latest crackhead who managed to do herself in, or some similar rot.  Bread and circuses, while Rome burns.

Glad to see our Taiwanese allies got some flying hours and intercept practice, though.

Salty Gator said...

Glad that nobody crashed into our EP-3.  We might have had a run on undeserving medals if they had landed in China, gotten captured and repatriated like we did last time.......

NavyOne said...

Whoah Salty Gator, I had four friends on that flight, some of whom I have flown quite a bit with. I have only heard their side of the mess. Yes, the pilot (Osborne) flew that thing amazingly well. Yes, they behaved themselves on the ground. is the "undeserving" tag for lack of keeping the airframe intact (and not ditching?)

NavyOne
www.themellowjihadi.com

NavyOne said...

Whoah Salty Gator, I had four friends on that flight, some of whom I have flown quite a bit with. I have only heard their side of the mess. Yes, the pilot (Osborne) flew that thing amazingly well. Yes, they behaved themselves on the ground. is the "undeserving" tag for keeping the airframe intact (and not ditching?)

NavyOne
www.themellowjihadi.com

sid said...

For those touting the invincibility of ...The Network...take heed.

The eyes and ears part of the infrastructure was built as an unarmed and sensitive tripwire for the I&W precceding a potential nuclear attack from an otherwise well behaved foe.

The Chinese have already taken out one set of ears with a boat hook.

Now they have chased away a set of eyes...

Now, tell me again how this Network is to be an effective operational and tactical Force Multiplier?

And oh yeah.

Staying Power still matters.

Salty Gator said...

The pilot's skill in landing a damaged bird on land is not questioned.
The crews' diplomatic skill once captured is not questioned.

Not destroying all cryptological material prior to opening the hatch to let your chinese captors in, I question.

Not ditching in the ocean in international waters, I question.

Note I said "question."  These things have never been adequately explained.

And, yes.  I question a Distinguished Flying Cross. 

Here's one from Vietnam: http://militarytimes.com/citations-medals-awards/recipient.php?recipientid=42536

Sucks when your friends get called out on Sal's front porch.  Has happened to me too.  But nobody really wanted to have an adult conversation about what happened when it happened.  If we're talking about prowling the south china sea and the straits of Taiwan when interceptors are lurking, this is a conversation that needs to be had.

sid said...

 If we're talking about prowling the south china sea...

This how the USN used to prowl the South China Sea....

Those days are done.

Stu said...

I have to agree with SG.  Yes, awards were given out but behind the scenes a different opinion was held. 

11B40 said...

Greeetings:

Back in the Bronx of my youth, the local folk wisdom included an expression that went, "Putting down stink". It referred to letting others know what you considered your own and not to be violated. The Chicoms have been doing more and more of this of late. It is much in the tradition of the old Chinese Empire. It's their combination of "a word to the wise is sufficient" and "to encourage the others". Expect more.

CDR Salamander said...

That is some varsity seamanship!

LT B said...

Dude, we are a thousand ship diverse global force for good leaning six sigma homosexual happiness and acceptance all over our enemies!  Fear not, we have the networked LCS! 

Spade said...

But not very diverse at all.

murphy said...

LMAO = the 'US main stream media' EVER reporting about COMMUNIST CHINA's military build-up

NO REPORTING:

-New RED CHINESE aircraft carrier...?
-New RED CHINESE 'stealth' fighter...?
-New RED CHINESE anti-USN ICBM...?
-Current RED CHINESE cyber attacks on US computer systems (2011)...?

Ive tried calling my Senators/Congressman (Dems) to ask about their 'views' on the threat to the US from Communist China...
They hung-up on me. :-E

NavyOne said...

Salty Gator,

I think I agree with most everything you said. In reality, my friends have said as much in private. I was not aware of the award, probably because I never cared. Your third bullet on cryppies really hurts. Probably because it is my community and it may/may not be true. . . There has been "studies" of the situation and I read one notable one. It was interesting. . .

Thanks,
NavyOne

UltimaRatioRegis said...

Hell, murph, two years ago I still had senior officers (BGs and MGs) declaring Red China to be an "ally" and "partner" in resolving crises in places (Nigeria, SCS) where they were clearly the instigators. 

We were, in one war game, positing attempts to co-opt China to help us disarm MEND.  (Question, General:  Who the f*ck do you think is arming them?  Who benefits from having Royal Dutch Shell pushed off of the platforms in the Niger Delta?)

Both State and DoD have been far too trusting and naive for too damned long.  Going back to Bill Clinton.

Salty Gator said...

And backed by corporations and their lobbying firms.  Let's recall here that china is also engaged in economic warfare against us (even though they buy our T Bonds).  They devalue their currency, dump subsidized steel on the market, and violate international labor conventions.  All of these add up to unfair competition in the price wars.  Corporations export jobs overseas and don't care because their balance sheet isn't negatively affected anymore.  This isn't the 80s.  American corporations have adapted.  Major unions don't fight it anymore either because they are subsidized by the taxpayer and let's be honest, the fat cats who run the unions are no different than the fat cats that run the corporations (lawyers).
So is it surprising that nobody in power wants to talk about China?  Nobody has the guts!

Squidly said...

So next time chuck thermite into the doppler well...

Squidly said...

Corpen Starboard Niner baby!

Retired Now said...

Squidly,  try sending that maneuvering order from USS FREEDOM !     

Does it have 2 full sized Flag Bags with lots of halyards like all the National Security Cutters do ?  Nope !

The OOD won't be sending such signals via flag hoists to the other 3 or 4 accompanying LCS boats.

But not to worry, they have networks that never fail, nor have any crypto problems, or ever get jammed. 

Aubrey said...

Heck, they can always just get out and walk across the pier to give orders to the others in their LCS squadron!

You only need to send signals if you are, you know, ever at sea...

ewok40k said...

ask some ROC (Taiwanese) F-16s for escort next time?