News

**Captain Aspirant** · (This post was last modified: 09-30-2012 11:12 PM by Captain Aspirant.)

Big U.S. Fleet Nears Disputed Islands, But What For?

TOKYO – It’s probably just a coincidence; no need to worry yet. But the U.S. has quietly assembled a powerful air, land and sea armada not far from where Japan and China are squaring off over disputed islands in the East China Sea.

Two Navy aircraft carrier battle groups and a Marine Corps air-ground task force have begun operating in the Western Pacific, within easy reach of the Senkaku Islands. That’s where Japanese and Chinese patrol boats are engaged in an increasingly tense standoff.

[...]

The U.S. hasn’t taken sides in the ownership dispute, and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has called for “cooler heads” to prevail. Nonetheless, U.S. officials have stated clearly that the Senkakus fall under the U.S.-Japan security treaty, which would require the U.S. to come to Japan’s aid in case of attack.

Navy officials confirmed Sunday that the USS George Washington carrier strike group has begun operating in the East China Sea, near the disputed islands. The USS John C. Stennis group is only slightly further away in the South China Sea. Each carrier is armed with more than 80 warplanes, and strike groups typically include guided-missile cruisers and destroyers, submarines and supply ships.

http://nation.time.com/2012/09/30/big-u-...-what-for/
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That's a lot of power (80 fighter jets per carrier, cruise missiles, ect.) and not too mention supplies. The China Sea is looking more and more like the Persian Gulf.

Hiding

**hurchel** · **hurchel** Subscriber User ID: 3859 09-30-2012 11:13 PM **Posts: 1,950**

**kosh**

Very interesting. Thanks OP. Next few weeks are ones to watch fer shure

**Full Circle**

Why does the US have to get involved in everything? Just curious.....

**Disquiet** · (This post was last modified: 09-30-2012 11:26 PM by Disquiet.)

My friend is in the Marines. He recently told me he volunteered to be deployed in the next 1-3 months on an aircraft carrier. He's stationed in San Diego so will probably be headed to Asia.

He said they started asking for volunteers for deployment on Wednesday.

**LoP Guest** lop guest User ID: 124363 09-30-2012 11:25 PM

**Captain Aspirant**

Obama Blocks China's Second-Richest Man From Owning Wind Farm Near Secret Navy Base - http://www.forbes.com/sites/christopherh...navy-base/

President Obama made a fascinating move yesterday in issuing an executive order prohibiting a Chinese company from owning and operating a wind farm near the Naval Weapons Systems Training Facility in Boardman, Ore.

China's lines around islands suggest more conflict - http://www.ctpost.com/news/article/China...904275.php

**Captain Aspirant**

kosh Wrote:

Very interesting. Thanks OP. Next few weeks are ones to watch fer shure

No problem. And you are probably right.

**Captain Aspirant**

I haven't done much research on them, but do the Senkaku Islands have any valuable natural resources like oil or gold or something like that at all that would cause all this hubbub? Strategic location? Something?

Surely this squabble can't be a power grab over two worthless islands?

**silversides**

Full Circle Wrote:

Why does the US have to get involved in everything? Just curious.....

Because we are busy bodies....

**Coolchick**

Captain Aspirant Wrote:

I haven't done much research on them, but do the Senkaku Islands have any valuable natural resources like oil or gold or something like that at all that would cause all this hubbub? Strategic location? Something?

Surely this squabble can't be a power grab over two worthless islands?

oil, i think..

**Disquiet**

Captain Aspirant Wrote:

I haven't done much research on them, but do the Senkaku Islands have any valuable natural resources like oil or gold or something like that at all that would cause all this hubbub? Strategic location? Something?

Surely this squabble can't be a power grab over two worthless islands?

Lots of oil.....

**Captain Aspirant**

Coolchick Wrote:

Captain Aspirant Wrote:
I haven't done much research on them, but do the Senkaku Islands have any valuable natural resources like oil or gold or something like that at all that would cause all this hubbub? Strategic location? Something?

Surely this squabble can't be a power grab over two worthless islands?

oil, i think..

Disquiet Wrote:

Lots of oil.....

Ahh...

**Disquiet**

Quote:Japanese allege that Taiwan and China only started claiming ownership of the islands in 1971, following a May 1969 United Nations report that a large oil and gas reserve may exist under the seabed near the islands.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Senkaku_Islands_dispute

**LoP Guest** lop guest User ID: 114809 09-30-2012 11:54 PM

Captain Aspirant Wrote:

Coolchick Wrote:
Captain Aspirant Wrote:
I haven't done much research on them, but do the Senkaku Islands have any valuable natural resources like oil or gold or something like that at all that would cause all this hubbub? Strategic location? Something?

Surely this squabble can't be a power grab over two worthless islands?

oil, i think..

Disquiet Wrote:
Lots of oil.....

Ahh...

Really? I don't think so.