'It would be shame if a plane fell from the sky': China's warning to RAAF

[rajpoot]

This doesnt make sense. What was that plane doing there? Why is a state owned newspaper making threats more suited to a daily mail equivalent?

Seems like the same thing as what the USA did a few months back.

Also on a slightly different note, consider if the Chinese actually do shoot down one of these planes, not from the countries who are actually in dispute with them, but say the USA or Australia, what will really happen? Till a month or so back I would've been inclined to say something serious. But now after Turkey shot down a Russian plane with much less provocation IMO, and all that happened was a bit of frothing at the mouth on the Russian side.....well let's just say as much as it is required to actually challenge China's claim, it'll be silly to put people's lives in danger unless they're prepared to back it up.

[Slyspy]

Seems like the same thing as what the USA did a few months back.

Also on a slightly different note, consider if the Chinese actually do shoot down one of these planes, not from the countries who are actually in dispute with them, but say the USA or Australia, what will really happen? Till a month or so back I would've been inclined to say something serious. But now after Turkey shot down a Russian plane with much less provocation IMO, and all that happened was a bit of frothing at the mouth on the Russian side.....well let's just say as much as it is required to actually challenge China's claim, it'll be silly to put people's lives in danger unless they're prepared to back it up.

The Australians are exercising their navigation rights through international waters. This includes flying over various coral islands which China is militarising, all within easy reach of their South China Sea competitors and in direct contravention of a UN agreement which they themselves have signed up to. All that is required to challenge China here is to continually fly planes and sail ships past these islands - China has no fig leaf of territorial rights to cover any hostile action, unlike Turkey.

[rajpoot]

China has no fig leaf of territorial rights to cover any hostile action, unlike Turkey.

The difference being that the whole basis China's argument is that since that is indisputably China's territory, no outside nation has any say whatsoever in whether or not China's actions are in accordance with international maritime regulations or not.
Point is I'm not saying that China's claim is justified by a long shot. But then if any nation is being assertive right now it is China and it'll be a stretch to just assume that they'll keep sitting back and do nothing apart from spitting hot air. That would just weaken their position and make them lose face.

[Shaka_Khan]

The Southeast Asian countries don't have sufficient navies to defend some of those territories that they own and some that are international waters.

The Southeast Asian countries are joining together and strengthening their navies, though. I think it'll become more difficult for China to take those territories in the future, especially with US participation. Even Japan is joining on the SE Asian side because of Japan's own territorial dispute with China. I think they'll reach a peaceful stalemate, pretend that this dispute never happened, and move on.

[Shaka_Khan]

http://www.citylab.com/politics/2015...m_source=yahoo

China Cracks Down on Politically Incorrect Maps

Getting caught with the “wrong” maps can result in a hefty fine of up to $31,000—or criminal charges.

Linda Poon | Dec 17, 2015



When it comes to maps, China isn’t messing around.

Starting next year, you don’t want to be caught with the “wrong” maps—that is, maps containing content “that endangers the country's sovereignty, safety and interests,” according to a statement by China’s government mapping official Le Weibin.....

[Shaka_Khan]

Gee, that's an old map. Hong Kong is still labeled as U.K. territory and Macau is still labeled as Portugal's.

[Gilrandir]

All that is required to challenge China here is to continually fly planes and sail ships past these islands - China has no fig leaf of territorial rights to cover any hostile action, unlike Turkey.

Neither did Russia yet see what it has done to the Crimea. So sometimes a more powerful country choosing a propitious moment may just flagrantly and blatantly do whatever it likes.