Page 32: of Maritime Reporter Magazine (September 2016)

MARITIME SECURITY of these facilities, contributes to a ne- stricted in her ability to maneuver, and When his commanders in the Baltic gotiated solution, and, as such, we have Russian Recklessness directing other ships to remain clear, but Fleet refused to operate in an unsafe and diplomatically lodged our disagreement, Throughout history, adversaries have would then freely maneuver herself in a un-seamanlike manner to antagonize and we’ve diplomatically discussed our created pretexts to escalate con? icts. We way that seemingly demonstrated no re- NATO units, he ? red all of them in a disagreements with the Chinese.” may be witnessing this today with Rus- striction. Stalin-esque purge.

Montgomery said the East China Sea sian ships and aircraft conducting pro- A Russian news service, Sputnik, quot- The Moscow Times reported that the presents an equally challenging prob- vocative and unprofessional maneuvers ing the Russian Defense Ministry, said, Russian Defense Ministry announced it lem with sovereignty disagreements. with its ships and aircraft. “U.S. destroyer Gravely made a close was purging the entire senior and mid- “The signi? cant difference with the East If the U.S. takes the bait and reacts, encounter with a Russian warship in the level command of the Baltic Fleet for

China Sea is that the U.S. treaty part- it can be portrayed as “starting it.” If it eastern Mediterranean on June 17 at a dereliction of duty and corruption. The ner is a signi? cantly more capable air- doesn’t do something, it can be portrayed distance of 60-70 meters [197-229 feet] June 29 report said the Baltic Fleet lead- maritime force in the Japanese Maritime as weak. One such recent provocation on the port side and crossed the Yaro- ership showed “serious shortcomings

Self-Defense force. And I think that has involved a Russian frigate that was pur- slav Mudry’s course along the bow at a in the organization of combat training, a stabilizing effect there. But that does posefully interfering with a U.S. carrier dangerous distance of 180 meters [590 daily activities of their forces, failure to not mean that all risk is removed from strike group while conducting combat feet],” the ministry said. take all necessary measures to improve the East China Sea.” operations against ISIS. The Russians Watching the YouTube video posted by personnel accommodations, and distort-

Also alarming is China’s militarization showed video that appears to show their Russia, it appears that the Russian Frig- ed reports on the real state of affairs [in of its newly claimed islands, a charge frigate steering directly for the starboard ate is turning into the starboard quarter the ? eet].” There were also reports of a that China has also dismissed. “China’s quarter of USS Gravely, but in the nar- of the U.S. combatant, making it appear cover-up involving a collision of a Rus- deployment of national defense facilities rative state that the U.S. ship is cutting as if the Gravely was cutting across the sian submarine with a Polish patrol boat, on its own territory is reasonable and directly in front of them in a “dangerous bow of the Russian ship when in fact the the Russian report said. justi? ed,” said spokesman Hong Lei. “It and unprofessional manner.” Russian ship was headed into the Ameri- Western reports said Putin ? red the has nothing to do with the so-called mili- The Russian frigate was ? ying the in- can ship. commanders because they wouldn’t tarization.” ternational signal claiming to being re- Putin wants more such confrontations. confront NATO ships at sea. The Daily

Construction of hangars at Mischief Reef is at an earlier stage. Small hangars are being built along the length of the run- way, while three medium hangars and one large hangar are being constructed along the apron at its northern end. (Image courtesy: “CSIS Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative/DigitalGlobe”) 32 Maritime Reporter & Engineering News • SEPTEMBER 2016

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