Not long ago, I was lamenting with an acquaintance about how a Chinese submarine surfaced right near a US Aircraft Carrier without anyone knowing until "viola!" there it was right alongside - wow, talk about a cold-war type surprise trick.
This proves the Chinese Navy has very smart tactical ability, silent running subs, and a good sense of humor.
When did all this happen? Well, it happened during the last South Korea-US Wargames, the first of two after North Korea sunk a South Korean warship without provocation.
Now then, in discussing this my acquaintance made a matter-of-factly comment, when he said; "China has just a much right to it as we do.
" Indeed, but that was a dangerous move, what if the US thought it was a North Korean Sub, and that it might fire on the carrier or a US Navy Vessel? That could have been a disaster, as the US would have accidentally sunk it - not good.
So, I suppose the Chinese do have the right to cruise those waters, just like North or South Korea, but I'm an American - so whereas, I might concede that point, it was a childish move by China, for media points, or at least it appeared to be based on news reports.
Who knows the full story on that? Another issue is that well, I don't much like what China's Red Army Naval Fleet has been doing lately.
It's as if the Treasure Fleet Sails again - but I am not even sure if this is what Admiral Zheng had in mind during the Ming Dynasty.
And if we have rights to those seas also, then we need to stand tall and project our force properly, not whimper away like a once proud Nation at the top of the food chain relegated to a footnote in the annals of history.
See that point.
Indeed, I have no doubt that the US Navy will modify its protocol now that the Chinese have decided to play cold-war tricks like the Russians did and have restarted to do as of late.
However, if we make new protocols and the enemy knows them, then they aren't worth anything (remember the bad guys in DieHard movie using FBI protocols?).
Why should I even care about this protocol issue or allowing the bureaucracy to enter US Naval procedures you ask? Well, because right now our laws and rules are being used against us as our enemies exploit our weakness of bureaucracy - like the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy.
Additionally, well, I am only into winning, I am not much into forgiveness, "next time we will do better", or we are going to fix it all by making another rule.
We should have shot that sub with an electromagnet pulse to protect our fleet and then offered to tow it home for them.
Or just pretend they pulled a fast one on us and let them "think" they are so sneaky, until the real war comes, and I believe it will someday, the Chinese Navy will again challenge the US Navy whether it be in that Sea, the Taiwan Straits, Sea of Japan, East China Sea, South China Sea, Singapore Straits, or some other significant Naval Choke Point.
Once again for those who frequently read my articles - these comments are my personal opinions - I realize that some may not like them in such a PC world.
Wake Up America, today it's a friendly game of hide-and-seek, but in another decade or two, I very much doubt it will be anything of the sorts.
Please consider all this.