This interaction could stem from either our super weak showing in Afghanistan or reports that we may start recognizing Taiwan as Taiwan instead of Chinese Taipei or the Republic of China. China would be pissed if we start recognizing Taiwan properly. But either way, China is making an aggressive move here coming close to our coast.
“Crews interacted with local, national, and international vessels throughout the Arctic. During the deployment, Bertholf and Kimball observed four ships from the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) operating as close as 46 miles off the Aleutian Island coast,” USCG said in a statement. “While the ships were within the U.S. exclusive economic zone, they followed international laws and norms and at no point entered U.S. territorial waters.”
“The PLAN task force included a guided-missile cruiser, a guided-missile destroyer, a general intelligence vessel, and an auxiliary vessel. The Chinese vessels conducted military and surveillance operations during their deployment to the Bering Sea and North Pacific Ocean,” the statement added. “All interactions between the U.S. Coast Guard and PLAN were in accordance with international standards set forth in the Western Pacific Naval Symposium’s Code for Unplanned Encounters at Sea and Convention on the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea.”
The statement comes as China has shown increased aggression toward the United States under the Biden administration, including mocking and disrespecting the U.S. on U.S. soil earlier this year. Biden faced harsh criticism after the meeting.”
Interactions between US Coast Guard Cutters USCGC Bertholf (WMSL-750) and USCGC Kimball (WMSL-756), and PLAN vessels were safe and professional with verbal communications.
📸 @DVIDSHub pic.twitter.com/1ZMD2MglC3
— Ryan Chan 陳家翹 (@ryankakiuchan) September 13, 2021
“Chinese state-run Global Times media outlet described the Type 055 destroyer as “one of China’s most powerful warships,” and cited a Chinese military expert who said China is expected to increase its training is more distant waters in the future.
The Global Times insisted that the U.S. sent the Coast Guard ships “because it is wary of the presence of Chinese warships close to the country, particularly advance destroyers like the Type 055.”
China is constantly flying warplanes into Taiwanese airspace and there is no telling how long that will remain civil. As Australia has put it “the drums of war are beating.”
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