# Obama Determined to provoke China? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [October 15, 2015, 9:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-determined-to-provoke-china/734711 "2015-10-15T09:43:43Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![davida03801](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b5e925/32.png) [@davida03801](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davida03801)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2015, 1:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-determined-to-provoke-china/734711/21 "2015-10-17T13:06:21Z")
> [@Count\_Blucher](#): > > Is it possible that the US might have a strategic interest in keeping the Philippines happy? > There aren’t any bases or anything important like that over there, are there? > Probably not. The two US bases were shut down in the late 1980’s time frame. Clark Air Base and Subic Navel Base. At the time the Filipinos were happy on that, wonder if they are having 2nd thoughts now ? ---
**Author:** ![DinoR](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dinor/32/2821_2.png) [@DinoR](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DinoR)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2015, 1:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-determined-to-provoke-china/734711/22 "2015-10-17T13:57:53Z")
> [@davida03801](#): > > At the time the Filipinos were happy on that, wonder if they are having 2nd thoughts now ? [They already had second thoughts and started taking actions.](http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/jul/16/philippines-reopens-subic-bay-as-military-base-to-cover-south-china-sea) ---
**Author:** ![ralph124c](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/8797f3/32.png) [@ralph124c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ralph124c)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2015, 2:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-determined-to-provoke-china/734711/23 "2015-10-17T14:00:18Z")
The two US bases were shut down in the late 1980’s time frame. Clark Air Base and Subic Navel Base. what’s a “navel base”? Is it where sailors show off their navels? At its peak, Subic Bay was a giant naval base-you could rebuild aircraft carriers there. i wonder what it looks like today? ---
**Author:** ![northporlarbear](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/7bcc69/32.png) [@northporlarbear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/northporlarbear)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2015, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-determined-to-provoke-china/734711/24 "2015-10-17T14:53:58Z")
China should be dealt with sooner or later. It’s not a good country whilst it is gaining power. Like with Tibet incident, it just does whatever it wants when they should not. China is very self-interest oriented & self-centered. ---
**Author:** ![AK84](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85e7bf/32.png) [@AK84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AK84)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2015, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-determined-to-provoke-china/734711/25 "2015-10-17T14:55:05Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > I think it’s more, “we are challenging CHina, but in the least offensive way possible and consistent with 200 years of precedent.” If there’s any escalation, that will be on China, not us. By staying outside the 12 mile limit you have accepted that Chineae aoverignity exits in the SparatleyIslands. 12 miles is the limit of territorial waters, a US vessel can legally sail within 12 miles of the Port of Shahgai. If the US was early challenging China,they would go beyond that limit. If Sprately Islands are not Chinese territory, then, their is no problem to sail within the 12 mile limit. ---
**Author:** ![even\_sven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/dfb087/32.png) [@even\_sven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/even_sven)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2015, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-determined-to-provoke-china/734711/26 "2015-10-17T17:15:28Z")
> [@northporlarbear](#): > > China should be dealt with sooner or later. It’s not a good country whilst it is gaining power. Like with Tibet incident, it just does whatever it wants when they should not. China is very self-interest oriented & self-centered. As opposed to all those countries that don’t focus on their self-interest? How exactly do you propose “dealing with” China? ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2015, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-determined-to-provoke-china/734711/27 "2015-10-17T18:47:24Z")
> [@even\_sven](#): > > How exactly do you propose “dealing with” China? Whack it on the snout with a rolled-up newspaper. _“Bad, Bad Dog!”_ ---
**Author:** ![CarnalK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnalk/32/486_2.png) [@CarnalK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CarnalK)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2015, 1:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-determined-to-provoke-china/734711/28 "2015-10-27T13:10:55Z")
> [@AK84](#): > > If the US was early challenging China,they would go beyond that limit. If Sprately Islands are not Chinese territory, then, their is no problem to sail within the 12 mile limit. As the US warned they would, [they have indeed sailed within that limit](http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-34647651) leading to China’s condemnation for this “illegal” act. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-determined-to-provoke-china/734711.md?page=1)