March 17, 2004

AXIS OF EVIL FILES:

Chinese, French warships stage joint 'non-conventional security' drill (AFP, Mar 16, 2004)

Chinese and French warships carried out a joint exercise Tuesday, marking the largest naval drill China has ever conducted with a foreign country, state media and officials said.

The exercise, coming at the end of a five-day visit by French naval vessels to China, was aimed at improving capabilities in the field of "non-conventional security," according to the Chinese foreign ministry.

"In recent years, the development of the relations between the two countries and the two militaries has been growing smoothly," ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao told a regular briefing.

The exercise came just four days ahead of crucial presidential elections on Taiwan, watched carefully by China which is in constant fear of separatist sentiments on the island.


One advantage of extending a nuclear guarantee to Taiwan is that if Chine made a move we could nuke its ally France.

Posted by Orrin Judd at March 17, 2004 8:26 AM
Comments

If I hadn't been swayed before, that would've done it.

Posted by: Chris at March 17, 2004 9:29 AM

And just what is John French Kerry's response to this nonsense? Or is he in Chirac's pocket the way Clinton was with the Chinese?

Posted by: jim hamlen at March 17, 2004 9:56 AM

It is the traditional French foreign policy to ally with the most powerful enemy of the "Anglo-Saxon" powers. At least, it's been that way ever since France couldn't fill that role itself.

Posted by: Brandon at March 17, 2004 10:42 AM

I wonder if they were able to get their only carrier there under its own power?

Posted by: Genecis at March 17, 2004 11:55 AM

Wouldn't it be kind of funny if a U.S. 688-class sub were to surface and say "Hello!" right in the middle of the Sino-Weasel combined fleet--having gotten there completely undetected, of course.

Sort of like the scene where the Air National Guard A-10s do the surprise flyby of the Kirov in The Hunt for Red October.

Posted by: Mike Morley at March 17, 2004 12:24 PM

Mike - great idea. Even better would be if the sub captain offered them all some brie (and escargot).

Posted by: jim hamlen at March 17, 2004 5:46 PM

I say we take preemptive action and nuke em now.

Posted by: Robert Schwartz at March 17, 2004 6:25 PM

Hey Folks:

This "exercise" consists of two small warships from the French who couldn't have a blue water navy if their souls depended on it, and a few Chinese ships from their brown water navy. Note that that the Chinese deployed a fuel tanker. We should take heart that this is the best they can do.

Posted by: Brooks at March 17, 2004 10:18 PM

The concept of nuking France for being allied to China, if China made a move on Taiwan, is exactly why the US should not sign any official, binding co-defense treaty with India.

Sure, we'd help out if Pakistan and India decided to play, but it should be on our terms, and at our discretion.

Posted by: Michael Herdegen at March 18, 2004 6:27 AM

Under what circumstances could we stand by as an Islamic or Communist nation attacked an allied democracy?

Posted by: oj at March 18, 2004 7:42 AM

Brooks:

It's the principle of the thing.

Posted by: oj at March 18, 2004 7:47 AM
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