Here We Go

First came Red China's unilateral declaration of an Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ) over a small group of islands in the East China Sea. China's ADIZ overlaps with an existing Japanese one. Furthermore, ownership and administration of the islands is disputed. The end result of China's power grab has been to ratchet up tensions in that part of the world.

Vice President Joseph Biden arrived on Wednesday in Beijing, where the zone didn’t come up in public comments from him or Chinese President Xi Jinping. But Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel said the continuing tug-of-war over the South and East China seas is a “combustible” issue that China’s declaration didn’t help. “It’s not that the ADIZ itself is new or unique,” he said on Wednesday. “The biggest concern that we have is how it was done so unilaterally and so immediately without any consultation. That’s not a wise course of action to take for any country.”

Then came the news that U.S. and Chinese warships engaged in a naval game of chicken.

A U.S. Navy guided missile cruiser took evasive action to avoid colliding with a Chinese warship in the South China Sea in what sources called a highly unusual and deliberate act by China...

Several U.S. military officials confirmed details of the incident on the high seas involving the USS Cowpens, which has just come to light.

The American warship -- which U.S. officials say was in international waters -- was approached by a Chinese Navy ship. The smaller vessel peeled off from a group of Chinese Navy ships that included the carrier Liaoning.

The Chinese ship failed to stop, despite radio warning from the Cowpens that it was getting too close.

The Cowpens commanding officer then issued orders for an "all stop" when the other ship was less than 500 yards off its bow, a U.S. Navy official said.

The Chinese ship proceeded past the Cowpens.

"It is unusual to have to take evasive action at sea to avoid a collision," the official added.

While naval vessels from different countries often come close as they observe each other, the United States sees this case as one that could have led to a collision because of the time and distance it takes for an American warship to stop.

"The Chinese knew what they were doing," a second U.S. military official said.

Yes they do. They know that our country is led by a spineless liar, our second-in-command is a bumbling clown, and our DOD is headed by an incompetent political appointee. They know that our military has been ground down by 10+ years of war in the Mideast, and further weakened by budget cuts and politically correct cultural changes. This is an ideal time for the chicoms to expand their sphere of influence, and they're taking advantage of it.

We are so screwed...