[Oilguy]

Two warships of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) People’s Liberation Army-Navy (PLAN) docked at a port in Myanmar on August 29, 2010, in the first publicized PLAN ship visit — but not the first actual PLAN visit — to Myanmar.

It was a move designed to help pre-position the PRC in its relations with Myanmar in the lead up to that country’s upcoming national elections. The move also ended two decades of discreet PRC approaches to its naval presence in the Indian Ocean. It also follows the open PLAN task force presence in anti-piracy operations off the Horn of Africa, and the now open commitment to use of the Pakistani Baluchistan port of Gwadar, at the entrance to the Persian Gulf.

Significantly, although the PRC maintains itself as both a heartland and maritime power, it is aware that the great challenge to break out from US global strategic dominance is essentially a maritime matter. Given economic and other realities, the US will be forced to rely increasingly on the US Navy — and particularly the Seventh Fleet in the Pacific and Indian Oceans — to project US influence.

But Washington is also working to bolster its strategic relations with the Republic of Korea, the ASEAN states as a whole, and India. The crunch for the US will be in finding the economic resources to boost the US Navy’s power projection advantages, particularly in the Pacific and Indian Oceans.

An Australian analyst, Dr Joel Rathus, of Adelaide University and Japan’s Meiji University, has noted (in the East Asia Forum, August 28, 1010): “A re-alignment is steadily underway in East Asia. Increasingly, ASEAN (and Korea) are moving closer to the geographically distant US, while China is becoming more distant from its neighbors.”

He also said: “China has seen the US and ASEAN draw closer on issues of major interest, such as the territorial disputes in the South China Sea. Clinton’s identification of this issue as a ‘pivot’ of regional security brings the United States back as a player after more than a decade of diplomatic passivity (to China’s notable discomfort).”

Building, or re-building, the US Navy in the Pacific and Indian Ocean to its earlier pre-eminence will not be easy for the US, despite the apparent numerical dominance which the USN has in the regions in terms of air and naval striking power.

To begin with, the PLAN has already deployed assets which severely inhibit the US Seventh Fleet: the Kilo- and Improved Kilo-class submarines, and other modern submarines, which can readily penetrate USN anti-submarine warfare (ASW) pickets around carrier battle groups; and the shipborne SS-N-22 Sunburn (P-270 Moskit or 3M-80/-80E) supersonic anti-ship missiles, against which there is as yet no adequate defense.

Now, Adm. Robert Willard, commander of the US Pacific Command, has confirmed during August 2010 discussions in Tokyo, that the PLA was “close to becoming operational” with its anti-ship ballistic missile (ASBM), based on a variant of the CSS-5 medium-range (1,500 to 2,000 km) ballistic missile (also known as the DF-21).

The DF-21s have maneuverable warheads (MARVs: Maneuverable Re-Entry Vehicles), and the type has undergone testing. The yet-to-be-deployed DF-21D would, most US sources agree, be a game-changer in the Pacific, giving the PRC, not the US, control of the anti-access/area denial (A2/AD) high ground. The PRC is highly conscious of the fact that control of the seas is foreseeably being removed from the US.

Full article at: http://www.globalintelligencereport.com ... -Defensive

[DoomersUnite]

Methinks that a Chinese Navy visit to Myanmar doesn't have quite the significance claimed in your title. Your title would require...I don't know....perhaps an American carrier battle group backing off for fear of evoking a reaction they can't handle and lets face it...a couple of ships visiting Myanmar doesn't qualify. As far as missiles...well...much has been claimed...nothing has been proven. Take out a nuke carrier, even by accident in a poor demonstration of military might and see how fast a B2 shows up on your doorstep and suddenly your problems become multi dimensional in short order. China might be able to do some things, but as of right now, it can't do everything, and if it does something? It has a problem that two guys wearing turbans and carrying an RPG don't....something to lose. Lots of somethings to lose.

[Kristen]

The chances of a confrontation between Chinese and American forces is minuscule. For the time being we have a solid symbiotic relationship and until it turns parasitic, we really shouldn't strife over it too much. China doesn't follow such an imperial strategy as the United States.

[Sixstrings]

The chances of a confrontation between Chinese and American forces is minuscule. For the time being we have a solid symbiotic relationship and until it turns parasitic, we really shouldn't strife over it too much. China doesn't follow such an imperial strategy as the United States.

I agree. Outright conflict would never happen; it's more like chess, blocking your opponent's range of available moves.

[Ibon]

What America did in Central America with the United Fruit Company 40 years ago China is doing today in Mayanmar; gold, timber, palm oil. Keeping an oligarchy of brutal generals and politicians in power as you suck off the country's resources. The US will not get in China's way. Mayanmar is pawn worth sacrificing when you are beholden to your debtor.

[EnergyUnlimited]

The chances of a confrontation between Chinese and American forces is minuscule.

I agree.
But when it does happen we will get a fast review of recent progress in applied nuclear physics.