Chinese warships off Alaska, is this something to be worried about?

SSgt Alex Robinson — Wed, 02 Sep 2015 22:08:44 -0400

http://www.wsj.com/articles/pentagon-watches-as-chinese-navy-ships-sail-in-bering-sea [login to see]

Five Chinese Navy Ships Are Operating in Bering Sea off Alaska

Five Chinese navy ships are operating in the Bering Sea, off the coast of Alaska, the first time the U.S. military has seen such activity in the area, Pentagon officials said on Wednesday.

Response by CPT Ahmed Faried made Sep 2 at 2015 10:15 PM

CPT Ahmed Faried — Wed, 02 Sep 2015 22:15:43 -0400

Not in the least

Response by SN Greg Wright made Sep 2 at 2015 10:18 PM

SN Greg Wright — Wed, 02 Sep 2015 22:18:42 -0400

SSgt Alex Robinson Not at all. They're just tooling around because Obama's in Ak. They're not violating any laws and the combat power of the small flotilla is negligible. It's just a statement.

Response by LCDR Rabbah Rona Matlow made Sep 2 at 2015 10:45 PM

LCDR Rabbah Rona Matlow — Wed, 02 Sep 2015 22:45:25 -0400

Nothing new here; it was the Russians before. Everyone is fighting over Arctic Oil rights, and fishing is great off Alaska, they probably want to stake it out for their fishing boats.

This will be a bigger problem for the Coast Guard than the Navy, as they enforce fisheries, along with a host of other agencies...

Response by Cpl James Waycasie made Sep 2 at 2015 11:03 PM

Cpl James Waycasie — Wed, 02 Sep 2015 23:03:56 -0400

Any time foreign warships are near the USA it should be a concern even though they are in international waters. This is not a common area for Chinese warships. With the massive front line build ups going on in Europe between the USA and Russia plus this quote from BBC News:
"They ( the Chinese) have conducted exercises with Russia in the Mediterranean and in the Sea of Japan... they have interest in the northern sea route so to see them off the coast of Alaska is the next evolutionary step along these lines." I would be questioning their government on their motives for being in the area. I would be keeping a wary eye on their movements and I would have our own ships and aircraft patrolling nearby waters and sky way. Use the seven P system just in case. Proper prior planning prevents piss poor performance.

Response by Sgt Kelli Mays made Sep 2 at 2015 11:14 PM

Sgt Kelli Mays — Wed, 02 Sep 2015 23:14:19 -0400

OH my Gosh, I was going to post this. lol

They are up to no good. What they are up to? The tension is severe and I sure hope no one gets itchy fingers and starts something we do not want started.

Response by PO2 Edward "The Chart" Hanrahan made Sep 3 at 2015 12:05 AM

PO2 Edward "The Chart" Hanrahan — Thu, 03 Sep 2015 00:05:23 -0400

Whether we would like to admit it or not the Chinese are doing exactly what we do.

Response by Capt Mark Strobl made Sep 3 at 2015 12:38 AM

Capt Mark Strobl — Thu, 03 Sep 2015 00:38:12 -0400

It's the warships that we can't see that concern me --Hopefully those who wear "dolphins" are tracking those ships. Otherwise, I just hear "Hey Look, USA, We have a 'blue navy' too!" Unless they're clubbing baby seals on ice-bergs, this is nothing but idle sabre rattling.

Response by SSG Toryn Green made Sep 3 at 2015 12:40 AM

SSG Toryn Green — Thu, 03 Sep 2015 00:40:26 -0400

Not something to worry about, but also not something to ignore.

Response by CPO Greg Frazho made Sep 3 at 2015 1:42 AM

CPO Greg Frazho — Thu, 03 Sep 2015 01:42:36 -0400

Hell, yes, it's something to be worried about if it's true. Talk about encroachment.

Response by PO1 William "Chip" Nagel made Sep 3 at 2015 1:56 AM

PO1 William "Chip" Nagel — Thu, 03 Sep 2015 01:56:33 -0400

Same think we and the USSR used to do in the "Cold War" really nothing new. They are just spending the Money they got in return for their Investment in the US. Nothing wrong with that. Good Old Fashioned Capitalism, Market Dictates. Also with the opening of the Northern Passage with the Artic Melting they want to cash in on the Opportunities. I understand.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 3 at 2015 3:18 AM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 03 Sep 2015 03:18:57 -0400

It was inevitable with the growth and expansion of Chinese interests across the globe. As long as they’re not here to collect on the enormous debt owed by us. Who knows these ship may just be China’s version of the debt collector stopping by to say, “Hey, you’ze got until this day to paze ya debt! I want you’ze ta know I can reach out and take it if you’ze don’t pay on time”.

Response by SGT Michael Glenn made Sep 3 at 2015 9:56 AM

SGT Michael Glenn — Thu, 03 Sep 2015 09:56:53 -0400

They arent Navy ships!!! they are whale boats disguised as Navy ships so we wont call them out for the brutal murder of whales!!!! Trickery I say !!!!!!!

Response by SFC Terry Fortune made Sep 3 at 2015 11:29 AM

SFC Terry Fortune — Thu, 03 Sep 2015 11:29:57 -0400

Yes!

Response by SPC Sheila Lewis made Sep 3 at 2015 2:44 PM

SPC Sheila Lewis — Thu, 03 Sep 2015 14:44:32 -0400

I am very concerned.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Sep 3 at 2015 2:49 PM

MAJ Ken Landgren — Thu, 03 Sep 2015 14:49:53 -0400

This is a strategic move by China before we go to the South China Sea.

Response by CDR Michael Goldschmidt made Sep 3 at 2015 8:17 PM

CDR Michael Goldschmidt — Thu, 03 Sep 2015 20:17:06 -0400

Uh...yeah!

Response by MSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 3 at 2015 9:57 PM

MSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 03 Sep 2015 21:57:37 -0400

China is a potential threat and it would appear that they are showing more dominance in the Pacific. They refurbished Soviet-era aircraft carrier and are building two of their own. ( http://news.yahoo.com/china-building-two-aircraft-carriers-taiwan-defense-ministry-075031992.html) They have the aircraft for carriers. (http://www.cnn.com/2012/11/25/world/asia/china-aircraft-carrier-landing/). And let us not forget the island building in the South China sea. (http://www.cbsnews.com/videos/china-ramps-up-island-building-in-south-china-sea/). And finally, with their growing ties in Africa due to untapped resources. So yes, they are a growing threat and should not be ignored or under estimated.

Response by GySgt Wayne A. Ekblad made Sep 4 at 2015 12:31 AM

GySgt Wayne A. Ekblad — Fri, 04 Sep 2015 00:31:38 -0400

Five Chinese Navy ships sighted in the Bering Sea off Alaska during a visit to the region by U.S. President Barack Obama have begun their "return transit," the U.S. Navy's top uniformed officer told Reuters on Thursday.

Chief of Naval Operations Admiral Jonathan Greenert said he did not view the incident, an apparent first for China's military, as unexpected or alarming.

"They already had one of their icebreakers up in that area, and they weren't that far away with an exercise, and they've already started their return transit," he told Reuters in an interview.

Greenert said the ships had been seen in the Bering Sea, close to some Alaskan atolls, on Wednesday, but gave no further details.

The Pentagon confirmed on Wednesday the ships had been sailing in international waters.

Read more at ...

http://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/chinese-ships-headed-home-after-bering-sea-sighting-us-navy/ar-AAdVJMs

Chinese ships headed home after Bering Sea sighting: U.S. Navy

Response by PO1 John Miller made Sep 4 at 2015 3:02 AM

PO1 John Miller — Fri, 04 Sep 2015 03:02:09 -0400

Since they're still in international waters they're not violating any laws. So I wouldn't say we should be worried about it but we SHOULD be tracking it.

Response by PO1 Glenn Boucher made Sep 4 at 2015 2:06 PM

PO1 Glenn Boucher — Fri, 04 Sep 2015 14:06:21 -0400

Its the media sensationalizing normal operations. I would be willing to bet that the Chinese are on regular patrols out there and in other international waters around the US, just as we routinely patrol around China.
Its only noted because President Obama was in Alaska at the time.