The Chinese Navy

[Longdan]

I only get to vote every four years.

[Centurion40]

http://www.cnn.com/2013/02/06/world/asia/china-japan-disputed-islands/index.html?hpt=hp_t2

Tokyo (CNN) -- Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Wednesday described as "dangerous" and "regrettable" the actions of a Chinese navy ship that Tokyo says put a radar-lock on a Japanese vessel last week. His comments come amid severely strained relations between the two Asian powers over a set of disputed islands in the East China Sea.

The tensions over the islands -- which Japan currently administers but both countries claim sovereignty over -- have resulted in maritime standoffs and the scrambling of Japanese fighter jets in recent months.

In the latest incident, Japan accused the Chinese navy ship of using radar to gather information on the location of a Japanese warship in the East China Sea. That type of radar could be used to produce data needed to fire upon the Japanese vessel.

[Mr. Bigglesworth]

I'd bet Japan goes nuclear within a week of China firing on their navy.

[Longdan]

I do not like being downwind of that kind of crap.

[Staggerwing]

I'd bet Japan goes nuclear within a week of China firing on their navy.

Isn't there something in Japan's constitution about not engaging in a nuclear weapons program, or am I merely remembering an apocryphal story?

[Mr. Bigglesworth]

Don't know, cant read it. ;-)

All niceties of their polite culture go out the window when their navy starts being sunk. They will always see themselves as a sea based nation.

[Mr. Bigglesworth]

I do not like being downwind of that kind of crap.

They don't have to use it, they just say "Yu fukka around, yu sionarra."

[Longdan]

China is upwind of Japan.  China is still pissed that Japan is pretending WW2 didn't happen.
China is more nukey than Japan.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_nuclear_weapon_program

[GDS_Starfury]

no nukes for the Japanese military.
now giant robots on the other hand....

[LongBlade]

no nukes for the Japanese military.
now giant robots on the other hand....

+1

I wouldn't underestimate what a highly developed, gadgety-prone, limited resource nation is capable of. China had better bring their A game.

[Gusington]

Do the Japanese operate their own drones or does the US do that for them?

[besilarius]

In regards to the Japanese prime minister being enraged that a Chinese vessel shined a fire control radar at a Japanese vessel, this is pretty low level harassment.
If something like this could start a shooting match, then there would have been a new one every week in the Mediterranean during the 1970s.  This is not so unusual, and it could even be a case of needing the better resolution to get an accurate range - bearing - course - speed, etc.  (I don't believe it, but it could be.)
When the Chinese start maneuvering to use the "Rules of the Nautical Road" and Admiralty Law to be priveliged and try to force a collision, then the Prime Minister will have grounds.
Of course, when the Sovs did this to us back then, we complained through diplomatic channels.

[LongBlade]

When the Chinese start maneuvering to use the "Rules of the Nautical Road" and Admiralty Law to be priveliged and try to force a collision, then the Prime Minister will have grounds.
Of course, when the Sovs did this to us back then, we complained through diplomatic channels.

I would be more than happy to help draft a strongly worded letter.

[GDS_Starfury]

In regards to the Japanese prime minister being enraged that a Chinese vessel shined a fire control radar at a Japanese vessel, this is pretty low level harassment.
If something like this could start a shooting match, then there would have been a new one every week in the Mediterranean during the 1970s.  This is not so unusual, and it could even be a case of needing the better resolution to get an accurate range - bearing - course - speed, etc.  (I don't believe it, but it could be.)
When the Chinese start maneuvering to use the "Rules of the Nautical Road" and Admiralty Law to be priveliged and try to force a collision, then the Prime Minister will have grounds.
Of course, when the Sovs did this to us back then, we complained through diplomatic channels.

there is the fact that the US and Russia didnt have over a 1000 years of hostility between them though.

[Longdan]

In regards to the Japanese prime minister being enraged that a Chinese vessel shined a fire control radar at a Japanese vessel, this is pretty low level harassment.
If something like this could start a shooting match, then there would have been a new one every week in the Mediterranean during the 1970s.  This is not so unusual, and it could even be a case of needing the better resolution to get an accurate range - bearing - course - speed, etc.  (I don't believe it, but it could be.)
When the Chinese start maneuvering to use the "Rules of the Nautical Road" and Admiralty Law to be priveliged and try to force a collision, then the Prime Minister will have grounds.
Of course, when the Sovs did this to us back then, we complained through diplomatic channels.

there is the fact that the US and Russia didnt have over a 1000 years of hostility between them though.

And there is the fact that many of the aging, decrepit PRC leadership can personally remember the time before the Japanese were sent home.