International Law

Yes, Diplomacy Seems Like A Good Idea

By Stan

WASHINGTON (AFP) ? Chinese fishing boats engaged in “dangerous” maneuvers near a US Navy ship in international waters off China, the Pentagon said Tuesday, in the latest provocative encounter with American surveillance vessels.

Spokesman Bryan Whitman said a pair of Chinese vessels last Friday approached the USNS Victorious, which he said was engaged in “routine operations,” and forced the US vessel into defensive measures.

“It is unsafe and dangerous behavior and it needs to be addressed” diplomatically, Whitman said.

Having lived through the Cold War, I recall the continuous “incidents” that took place between the U.S. and Soviet armed forces. None of these flared up sufficiently for full-on warfare, but everyone knew who the opposing enemy was and were poised for conflict.

I have a feeling these incidents can move armed forces into a rut, where there is a continuous tit-for-tat for the last perceived slight by the other.

Doesn’t need to be that way. Let’s hope the adults in the two governments, if there are any, make sure to tell their armed forces that no, we really aren’t warring with each other and don’t need to test/annoy one another on a regular basis.

The hawks out there will say that I am being naive and that such behavior is important not only for military readiness, but also for aggressive posturing (i.e. we’re tough guys, don’t forget it).

Don’t believe it. I’ve come to understand that at least 75% of the time, when someone says you are naive to attack your position, it simply means that they have no other argument against you. In this case, the diplomats should step in and stop this crap. This is no over-arching advantage here in such behavior that would be better than a productive, cooperative relationship.

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Full post as published by China Hearsay on May 05, 2009 (boomark / email).