China masses troops near Vietnam border

[mojaveman]

Troops, tanks, trucks, artillery and armored personnel carriers of China's military were seen heading to the Vietnamese border on May 16 and 17, according to photographs taken by residents near the border.

Ok, six border skirmishes occurred between China and Vietnam from '80 to '87. Vietnam doesn't like the fact that China is drilling for petroleum so close to their coast. Maybe China wants to send a message to the rest of Southeast Asia.

http://www.theepochtimes.com/n3/6829...ietnam-border/

[Airbornelawyer]

I am not sure how reliable the Epoch Times is as a source, given their strong anti-Beijing stance, though some degree of intimidation aimed at Hanoi wouldn't be surprising. Don't the Chinese know it's the 21st Century, not the 19th? I await a strongly worded #hashtag from Foggy Bottom.

Unless the situation really spiraled out of control, I doubt the PLA would actually cross the border. Beijing has too many economic interests in Vietnam, and I expect there are enough people in the CCP and PLA who remember just how poorly the PLA performed the last time it invaded Vietnam. Though I suppose there are some generals itching for a rematch.

Some more context for current developments:

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-27467450

China ships evacuate Vietnam workers after protests

Two of four ships evacuating Chinese workers from Vietnam are now returning home, Chinese state media say, after protests over a territorial dispute.

More than 900 people boarded each ship at the Vietnamese port of Vung Ang following anti-China violence triggered by a row over the South China Sea.

Last week, two Chinese nationals died and dozens more were hurt in a protest at a Taiwan-owned steel mill.

...

An odd element of the above story is that the Vietnamese protesters attacked a Taiwanese mill while protesting Communist Chinese actions. I guess they didn't think the difference mattered, especially as it seems based on the evacuations that the Taiwanese company is using mainland workers. Also, technically the ROC has the same territorial claims as the PRC; they just lack the means to enforce them that the PRC has.

Same subject as covered by the VOA:

http://www.voanews.com/content/hanoi...-/1916973.html

http://www.voanews.com/content/china...m/1917515.html

[JimP]

IIRC the last time the Chinese ventured into Vietnam, the Vietnamese kicked the dog-snot out of them. Was this '75 or '76?

[Flagg]

Originally Posted by JimP

IIRC the last time the Chinese ventured into Vietnam, the Vietnamese kicked the dog-snot out of them. Was this '75 or '76?

IIRC it was 1979.

I'm still going with the likelihood that China's first kinetic military adventure will be a "sure thing" with a strong political/economic/cyber emphasis combined with a smaller and virtually guaranteed kinetic component.

A cautious guaranteed victory akin to Grenada, but with Chinese characteristics, in order for China to test it's evolving military, to send a message to the region/world, and to distract a restless domestic populace.

I'm still thinking the Philippines.

And with how quickly the Philippines are desperately trying to acquire systems to defend their poorly protected EEZ as well as quickly pull themselves back under the US umbrella the Philippines probably think the same.

One angle I've read somewhere is that the new Kilo class submarines the Vietnamese are buying from the Russians includes training with Indian Navy submariners.....which would be giving China the sh!ts I'm sure.

[mark46th]

The Viets and the Chicoms have a long history of conflict. Go for it. It would be like the Iraq/Iran war. Kill as many of each other as possible...

[Loadsmasher]

Can we root for the bullets?