Paracels!

This is coolbert:

Hot update, South China Sea!!

I assume this is the Paracel Islands! Thanks to Freeper in this case!

Chinese and Vietnamese facing off over sovereignty and territorial rights!!

NO shots fire yet. YET! NONE OF THIS CARRIED BY THE MAIN STREAM MEDIA EITHER TO MY KNOWLEDGE.

"Vietnam and China face off in South China Sea"

"Vietnam said on Wednesday a Chinese vessel intentionally rammed two of its ships in a part of the disputed South China Sea where Beijing has deployed a giant oil rig, sending tensions spiraling in the region."

"The foreign ministry in Hanoi said the collisions took place on Sunday and caused considerable damage to the Vietnamese ships. Six people sustained minor injuries, it said."

"'On May 4, Chinese ships intentionally rammed two Vietnamese Sea Guard vessels,' said Tran Duy Hai, a foreign ministry official and deputy head of Vietnam's national border committee."

"'Chinese ships, with air support, sought to intimidate Vietnamese vessels. Water cannon was used,' he told a news conference in Hanoi. Six other ships were also hit, other officials said, but not as badly.

"Dozens of navy and coastguard vessels from both countries are in the area where China has deployed the giant rig, Vietnamese officials have said."

"'No shots have been fired yet,' said a Vietnamese navy official"

Dozens of ships with air support and a giant drilling rig. Collisions, intentional ramming, injuries, water cannon, "tensions spiraling". Actions short of war but very close to war.

In the book SSN Vietnam is described as an ally of China! That was twenty years ago! NO LONGER AND PERHAPS NEVER AGAIN!!

coolbert.