China in the Solomons?

[GratefulCitizen]

Guadalcanal.
Hopefully this won’t have to be fought over again.

https://www.militarytimes.com/news/2022/08/26/report-us-coast-guard-ship-denied-port-call-in-solomons/

[Flagg]

Guadalcanal.
Hopefully this won’t have to be fought over again.

https://www.militarytimes.com/news/2022/08/26/report-us-coast-guard-ship-denied-port-call-in-solomons/

Australia/New Zealand took the lead with the RAMSI(Regional Assistance Mission Solomon Islands) mission between 2003-2017 sinking over $4B into it over 15 years, with the ANZAC military presence pulling out in 2013.

In 2006 the locals rioted in relation to general elections and burned Chinatown to the ground.

There was always a funny Mad Comics “Spy vs Spy” competition vibe between Taiwan and China with local civil works projects competing for Solomon Islands hearts and minds.

Solomon Islands was amongst the rapidly declining few who recognised Taiwan over CCP/PRC.

In 2019, Solomon Islands swapped recognition of Taiwan for CCP/PRC.

CCP/PRC built a really significant diplomatic compound recently, WAY outsized compared to Aus./NZ/US.

In May 2022, Solomon Islands and China shocked everyone by signing a security pact.

The US sent a Gulfstream with a bunch of 1-2 star level folks to try and sort 8t out but to no avail.

Aus/NZ did the same.

2 days ago the Solomon Islands threatened to ban foreign journos if they are disrespectful.

The US War Memorial was absolutely immaculate the last time I saw it(My shadow box US flag flew there) whereas the Japanese War Memorial was treated like a public toilet.

NZ in particular has strong pacifika ethnic and cultural ties to Solomon Islands, but money talks.

And China is spending money like a sailor on shore leave.

We are on the back foot with Solomon Islands, and when you look at China’s strategy you can expect the Solomon Islands to become a contested space.

When you look at the Pacific thru the lens of USMC doctrinal pivot combined with the sudden recent interest in Sweden’s long experience with remote air operations, it’s an increasingly interesting game of chess.

There is hope.

If the Philippine military can exercise closely with the Japanese military(a healthy chunk of the entire Japanese Maritime Self Defence Force just trained in the Philippines), despite the truly horrific Japanese abuses there in WWII, there is hope.

[Badger52]

I see this recent story (https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/solomon-islands-doesnt-answer-us-coast-guards-request-for-port-visit-us-says/ar-AA117ugL) about a USCG vessel being refused a port call & refueling. The Communists must've done their due diligence in marching through the institutions there, such as they are.



I have a separate question about WTF a USCG vessel is doing in the South Pacific unless it's because they're the ones that don't seem to run into other vessels. I seem to recall asking the same question about them guarding Suez passage routes as well. This aspect is all so very confusing... are the Marines going to invade Antarctica? Is this the Looking Glass?
:rolleyes:

[SF_BHT]

I see this recent story (https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/solomon-islands-doesnt-answer-us-coast-guards-request-for-port-visit-us-says/ar-AA117ugL) about a USCG vessel being refused a port call & refueling. The Communists must've done their due diligence in marching through the institutions there, such as they are.



I have a separate question about WTF a USCG vessel is doing in the South Pacific unless it's because they're the ones that don't seem to run into other vessels. I seem to recall asking the same question about them guarding Suez passage routes as well. This aspect is all so very confusing... are the Marines going to invade Antarctica? Is this the Looking Glass?
:rolleyes:

USCG is deployed jointly working with the USN all over the world. This is nothing new. They were all over the world during WWII with the USN.

[Golf1echo]

Recently have had a chance to beef up on history. In Vietnam the Coast Guard was brought in to do costal interdiction largely because of the size and function of their vessels as well as their availability. They had good success which shifted the enemy’s supply routes to the Ho Chi Min Trail a much more difficult and lengthy logistic route.

Recently I see they very active in the Western Pacific…

[JJ_BPK]

USCG is deployed jointly working with the USN all over the world. This is nothing new. They were all over the world during WWII with the USN.

My dad joined the USCG in 1939, did submarine watch in the Great Lakes, North Atlantic on convoys, patroled the Caribean, and he shifted to the South Pacific mid-44. USCG was all over the world during WWII :lifter

[GratefulCitizen]

My dad joined the USCG in 1939, did submarine watch in the Great Lakes, North Atlantic on convoys, patroled the Caribean, and he shifted to the South Pacific mid-44. USCG was all over the world during WWII :lifter

Douglas Munro was a Coast Guardsman posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for actions at Guadalcanal.

https://www.cmohs.org/news-events/medal-of-honor-recipient-profile/douglas-a-munro-the-coast-guards-only-medal-of-honor-recipient/

[Badger52]

Thanks all, am duly swatted. I'll be looking into all that. I literally wasn't tracking such a wide presence of the USCG.

[The Reaper]

"Manila" John Basilone is rolling in his grave.

Helluva man made his stand there in Guadalcanal. No charge.

They finally got him on Iwo Jima. RIP Marine.

TR