Recall that Beijing has recently been very unhappy with the decision of the international tribunal, which rejected Chinese claims in the waters of the South China Sea.
The International Court of Arbitration in The Hague on July 12 ruled that the PRC has no reason to claim the so-called disputed islands. because they belong to the philippines. In the newspapers, the Celestial Empire called the Hague court “puppet” and accountable external forces. The chairman of the PRC Xi Jinping also spoke. According to him, these islands have always been an integral part of China.
Some Western analysts, observing such outrage in Beijing over the well-known islands and the waters around them, even started talking about the impending war of China with the United States: they say that all backstage decisions in The Hague are made by Washington, and the Celestial Empire in response will start economic pressure on the United States, almost economic war. And then declare a real war, to which communist and patriotic-minded citizens have long been calling upon their communist and patriotic rulers. Now, these same analysts, inspired by their own fantasy, are writing articles that the Russians will support the Chinese in their war for people's happiness.
This, for example, is stated in the British newspaper "Daily Star", in an article placed directly under the portraits of half-naked aunts. Half-naked aunts, and beneath them are photos of warships plowing the waters of the sea, and on their background are the faces of Xi Jinping and Comrade. Putin's
The question of whether Russia and China have united against the United States is already set in the title. Putin's ships - in disputed sea areas, wow! This newspaper does not even doubt. “The fierce dispute between the United States and China took an apocalyptic turn ...” (“Furious” in the subtitle is capitalized: “A FURIOUS dispute between the US and China has taken an apocalyptic turn ...”). Well, apparently, the end of America the other day.
The article recalls that the Peking dragon “smoked with anger” when the international tribunal rejected Chinese claims to the South China Sea last month. In response, the Chinese authorities promised to take “all necessary measures” to protect the territories that they consider to be their own in Beijing. At present, the tabloid edition notes, experts warn: China "may be thrown into the war with America, and it will be hijacked by its own raging citizens." And here’s the ending of the coming war: “... it looks like Russia will take their [Chinese] side”.
Further, the author of the bottomhole material, Michael Havis (Michael Havis), indicates that it is not for nothing that next month Chinese-Russian exercises, called "Joint Sea 2016", will take place. They will be held in the South China Sea, where Beijing continues to show force. The journalist is convinced that Moscow will now refuse to play the role of an outside observer and openly endorse Beijing’s “territorial claims”.
In support of this conclusion, the author for some reason cites the likely visit of Putin’s “guest of honor” to the G20 summit next month, which will be held in the PRC.
Further in the article it is noted that America provoked the anger of both countries (Russia and China), having deployed a “nuclear shield” in South Korea: the THAAD missile defense system. This was done against the background of concerns about a possible attack from the North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, the author recalls.
The journalist assumes that not only this “factor” unites Russia and China.
According to him, the Kremlin made a bet against all odds and “actually supported Beijing’s territorial claims.” Here is one more “weighty argument”: “Moscow territory of Crimea in 2014”. Apparently, the author is confident that, since the Muscovites "captured the Crimea", they will help the Chinese to capture something. They say that Moscow also has reasons for “territorial concerns related to the recent annexation of the Crimea, which previously belonged to Ukraine.”
Probably, the journalist believes that together with the Chinese Russians it will be easier to keep the “annexed” territories.
The logical picture, however, the correspondent did not work out. For the sake of irony or for some other purpose, he cites two statements - one from an official from the Ministry of Defense of the People's Republic of China, and the second from a Washington official.
The Chinese Ministry of Defense says that the fears of the conflict are exaggerated and that future exercises are not directed against third parties. Maneuvers are "the usual joint training of the armed forces of the two states." They are aimed "at strengthening the development of Chinese-Russian relations in the field of strategic interaction and partnership."
A spokesman for the White House said executive officials in Washington, DC, are experiencing zero anxiety for now. An unnamed official said he did not know "what kind of maneuvers they plan, but the United States and China have constant contacts between the military departments." Therefore, the official is “not surprised” that both Russia and China are seeking to build an appropriate relationship. The man from the White House said that the government "is not concerned about the security of American courts in the region as long as the interaction with China remains safe and professional."
However, a certain degree of provocation is characteristic not only of materials of the tabloid press. Chinese authorities also give a light.
As noted in August "Free press", Chinese Defense Minister Chang Wanquan called on fellow citizens to prepare for "a popular war at sea to protect the country's sovereignty."
"The army, the police and the people must prepare for the mobilization to protect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the country," - quotes his edition. The chief military official immediately called for the promotion of ideas about mass classes in civil defense. "SP" notes that the number of Chinese belligerent statements is growing.
As for the future naval teachings, scant information began to appear about them in recent days.
At a press conference in Beijing, a representative of the PRC's Defense Ministry, Wu Qian, told reporters that the command of the RF Armed Forces and the PLA discussed the upcoming 2016 Sea Interaction exercises. A spokesman for the Ministry of National Defense of China, transmits IA "REGNUM", did not give detailed information. He only said that the parties held the third round of talks, at which they discussed the plan of maneuvers and the program for each day.
In addition, the Ministry of Defense of China stressed that joint exercises are a measure to strengthen peace and security in the region.
The Russian military added some details to this, writes "Tsargrad".
According to the head of the information support department of the press service of the Eastern Military District for the Pacific the fleet 2nd-rank captain Vladimir Matveev, Russia and China will work out the actions of the forces of the Pacific Fleet and the PLA Navy to organize the protection and defense of ships at sea and to land a joint landing.
To this must be added one more thing. Russia and China are indeed strengthening their defense cooperation, which was clearly expressed by the White House official, whose opinion was quoted by a British newspaper.
As reported TASSOn August 25, Russian-Chinese defense consultations took place in Moscow. Information about this came from the Information and Mass Communications Department of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation.
"The sides discussed issues of bilateral military cooperation, including areas of cooperation between Russia and China in the field of missile defense, agreed on approaches to ensuring security in the Asia-Pacific region," the agency quotes the message.
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The fact that the future maneuvers of China and Russia will take place in the disputed waters is hardly necessary to say. If this happens, it will be possible to say that the statements of Russian Minister Lavrov "hung in the air."
Recall that at the end of April 2016, Mr. Lavrov said ( link) that external players should not intervene in resolving the dispute over the ownership of islands in the South China Sea. The minister said this after a meeting with his Chinese counterpart Wang I. According to the general opinion of the parties, the problem should be solved through direct dialogue.
Let's wait for September and exercises at sea. We will not guess. A wise position of Russia would be to follow the “theses of Lavrov”: let the participants of the dispute decide the matter themselves, while Moscow could watch the fight and, if necessary, extract its geopolitical benefits. By the way, the slightest “Chinese” hint from Moscow will instantly lead to a negative reaction from Vietnam. Vietnam already challenged Beijing in the South China Sea, placing rocket launchers on the Spratly Islands.
Therefore, let China play sea games with its "island" opponents. Russia should not go far.
Observed and commented on Oleg Chuvakin
- especially for topwar.ru
- especially for topwar.ru