China-U.S. sea confrontations could continue

[unhappycamper]

China-U.S. sea confrontations could continue
By Christopher Bodeen - The Associated Press
Posted : Tuesday Mar 10, 2009 21:01:22 EDT

BEIJING — China responded sharply Tuesday to Washington’s accusations over a confrontation at sea, an incident that analysts said could become more common as Beijing strengthens its navy and asserts claims to adjacent waters.

The U.S. accused Chinese ships of surrounding and harassing its Navy vessel in international waters, coming within 25 feet of the USNS Impeccable, stopping dead in front of it and strewing debris in its path. Some of the Chinese crew even stripped to their underwear after a blast by U.S. fire hoses.

“They seem to be more militarily aggressive,” U.S. National Intelligence Director Dennis Blair told members of the Senate Armed Services Committee on Tuesday. “I think the debate is still on in China whether as their military power increases they will be used for good or for pushing people around.”

He called Sunday’s incident the most serious episode between the two nations since 2001, when a U.S. surveillance plane collided with a Chinese fighter jet near the same area.

China’s Foreign Ministry said the American ship “broke international and Chinese laws in the South China Sea without China’s permission.”


Rest of article at: http://navytimes.com/news/2009/03/ap_china_navy_confrontation_031009/%2e

[greenkal]

1. Sounds like old orders left around

since Bush was President. Hopefully Obama will get this fixed quickly and stop these war-like actions.