Comments on: This was twenty-first-century reverse gunboat diplomacy

By: Jim

Jim — Sun, 10 Nov 2024 16:52:19 +0000

Nixon did this.

By: T. Beholder

T. Beholder — Thu, 07 Nov 2024 15:56:17 +0000

Ah, that famous American optimism. =)

This was twenty-first-century reverse gunboat diplomacy; whereas the British used to heave a man-of-war off the coast of some minor power to signal intent, the Chinese heaved into view off their own coast with a clear message:

And then they made a little detour near Shemya Island shortly before this book was published:
https://visionsofempire.wordpress.com/2015/10/13/china-in-alaska-part-i-sending-a-message/
Was this included in 2016 update?

By: Bruce

Bruce — Thu, 07 Nov 2024 05:05:53 +0000

Gaikokumaniakku is right. We spent the whole Cold War playing chicken in the North Pacific and I think Black Sea, cowboys and Russkies.

By: Gaikokumaniakku

Gaikokumaniakku — Wed, 06 Nov 2024 20:22:07 +0000

The author may be exaggerating American shock to make a point. William S. Lind wrote about many such incidents and always disparaged pearl-clutching journos who tried to make such incidents seem scary. According to Lind, all of the world’s militaries pull such stunts all the time.

By: Bomag

Bomag — Wed, 06 Nov 2024 13:32:44 +0000

With all the talk of China playing the long game in diplomacy/war, maybe this is short sighted?

If, via Zeihan et al, China has benefited mightily from US enforcement of open waterborne trade worldwide, it might behoove them to keep that gravy train rolling; not point out that carrier groups are obsolete, and send us home to live behind walls.