"This is the Chinese navy ... You go!"

[mirth]

^lol. The forward gun mount looks peaceful enough. Probably blows kisses.

[Centurion40]

Isn't the number of that ship 999?

And I agree with LB - I see it in a 1940s way too.

666 backwards!!! How evil is that?!?!

They're Chinese. Much better for us to use 444.

Hmm, interesting & educated observation.  Especially for us to use in the future.  BUT it is, AFAIK, a Chinese warship.  if they knew their enemy (and I would argue that they do), then they'd know that "444" would have no cultural resonance among (post) Judeo-Christian societies.  However "666" does; especially within the metal sub-culture.  Bazinga!

[Centurion40]

Related to a post that I made in the UN thread, I think that we need to look at the history of The People's Republic of China and its dealings with its bordering neighbours; in order to gauge the way forward in the Spratlys. 

The Russians had to fight (as in soldiers killing each other) with the Chinese.  The Indians had to fight with the Chinese.  The Vietnamese had to fight with the Chinese.

Here again, the Chinese are going to push until someone being pushed, pushes back.

[Steelgrave]

I found the following to be a thought provoking article. It opens with this:

1)     China possesses a rapidly improving military that, in certain local or regional engagements, could match — and even defeat — U.S. forces in battle.

2)    In military terms, China is a paper dragon that, despite its apparent strength, is powerless to intervene in world events far from its shores.

http://blogs.reuters.com/great-debate/2015/06/21/why-china-is-far-from-ready-to-meet-the-u-s-on-a-global-battlefront/

[Mr. Bigglesworth]

Isn't the number of that ship 999?

And I agree with LB - I see it in a 1940s way too.

666 backwards!!! How evil is that?!?!

Looking at it from their direction, it is probably not backwards.

[mirth]

More on the Chinese island building spree in the South China Sea

http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2015/07/30/world/asia/what-china-has-been-building-in-the-south-china-sea.html

[LongBlade]

More on the Chinese island building spree in the South China Sea

http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2015/07/30/world/asia/what-china-has-been-building-in-the-south-china-sea.html

We need to invent a localized earthquake machine that can shake those islands back into the sea.

[mirth]

We need to invent a localized earthquake machine that can shake those islands back into the sea.

We have it. We call it Trident or Minuteman.

[LongBlade]

We need to invent a localized earthquake machine that can shake those islands back into the sea.

We have it. We call it Trident or Minuteman.

Oh, I know. I was just thinking something less obvious. Less...traceable.

[mirth]

We need to invent a localized earthquake machine that can shake those islands back into the sea.

We have it. We call it Trident or Minuteman.

Oh, I know. I was just thinking something less obvious. Less...traceable.

We've got that covered too :P

http://www.naturalnews.com/032670_Fukushima_HAARP.html

[Mr. Bigglesworth]

Where do you find this tripe?

[LongBlade]

Where do you find this tripe?

Don't forget, he is part of the Groginatti. We might be responsible for writing the story.

[mirth]

Where do you find this tripe?

Where do you find this tripe?

Don't forget, he is part of the Groginatti. We might be responsible for writing the story.

Biggs' insolent tone has been noted.

[Mr. Bigglesworth]

Ah, yes, that. I could come up with some good stuff.

[Mr. Bigglesworth]

Where do you find this tripe?

Where do you find this tripe?

Don't forget, he is part of the Groginatti. We might be responsible for writing the story.

Biggs' insolent tone has been noted.

And take your thumb out of your ear, it makes your forehead look bulbous.
:P