I’m not familiar with the tensions in Asia concerning China so I’m hoping someone can provide some more background than is given in the story, especially given say China’s claims on the Spratly Islands for example as well as other hot spots.
Full story from The Guardian
This is a routine thing that happens between almost every country with a coastline and the US Navy. Some country claims a larger border than US and international law generally recgnizes, and the US sends planes or ships across the line to make a point that “it’s not yours just because you say it is.”
The last time I recall shooting is way back in the 80s with Libya and its so called “line of death” across the Gulf of Sidra. Libya claimed the whole Golf between the two northernmost land projection, but international law said that sea boundaries should reflect the nature of the adjacent land border, i.e., if the land borders curved inward so should he sea borders.
The US Navy sent a couple of F-14s over the line which shot down a couple of Libyan fighters that intercepted them.
My guess is that there have been more incidents since (I’m thinking North and South Korea), but none come to mind.
Still waiting for the Chinese to get around to trying to reassert their claims to the Amur region.
Just a graphic example of Marshall Mcluhans famous quote, the message is the medium.
You don’t use an iconic nuclear bomber on a freedom of navigation exercise, to many other choices that would be less inflammatory, come to mind. You would, though, if you wanted to send a message to all parties concerned to cease and stop with the school yard bullshit.
China has been expanding its claims in the Pacific and trying to bully the smaller countries in the area. Its all about the natural resources. A Game of Shark and Minnow - Who Will Win Control of the South China Sea? - NYTimes.com
That’s a beautifully illustrated and presented article. Thanks. It’s a little long on the human interest side and sort of cumbersome to get through but still lovely and very informative. 
LOL, that reminded me of Kurt Vonnegut and Rodney Dangerfield.
Of course perish the thought at any other world power would ever consider bullying smaller countries to secure access to natural resources.
The Spratly’s ? The press story I read indicated it was some un-named
volcanic islands administered by Japan. The Spratly islands are close
to Vietnam. The China government allegedly announced that all civilian
airlines would have to request permission to overfly said islands.
So overflights by US military aircraft are excluded from the
directive.
Obviously this is a China ploy to establish a legal claim to the un-named
island group which BTW has no human inhabitants. China probes of Japan
-administered ocean territories are behind the drive for a Japan remilitarization.
Singanas 11-26-13
It is/was. Look up “Senkaku Islands”. (Actually, here’s a link: Thanks Mr. Wiki )
The Spratley’s are a different set of islands that China is trying to assert ownership of.
So china has decided to respond with their take on freedom of navigation, by sortieing a carrier battlegroup, whose course will take it near the coast of okinawa.
Fair play to them, the japanese should sortie a couple of tug boats just in case
A carrier battle group without aircraft. Because they haven’t worked out that part of the equation.
Just routine, they were planning to put that thing to sea to start working out the bugs and the necessary protocols and processes.
I’m thinking, winged aircraft or not, it would make a pretty damn good assault ship. I’m guessing that if it needed to, it could carry a hell of a lot of troops and troop-carrying and attack helicopters.
Yes different part of the pacific, similar political goals.
I had to look that up myself and if I pegged it correctly, those islands seem to be just outside their 200 mile economic zone (or whatever the proper term is). The claim on the Spratlys seems a lot more tenuous but the NYT article didn’t really go into a lot detail on the history. It seems to generally be a land grab by all parties concerned.
How does one “Fly dramatically?”
IDK. I’d image there was a lot of hair tossing though. 
The Chinese are gonna mess with the US Navy? That’ll make the Battle of Santiago de Cuba looks like an even fight.
It’s been quite a week for Australian diplomats, following the Indonesian phone tapping imbroglio, getting rumbled for bugging the East Timorese during the Timor Sea Gap negotiations and now the Chinese over the Senkaku Islands.
OK, now having their ambassador carpetted by Australia isn’t much more severe than being slapped with a warm lettuce leaf, but the Chinese responded with wonderful display of pique and indignation.
China warns (Australian Foreign Minister) Julie Bishop’s ‘irresponsible’ criticismof the new air zone could hurt relations. It could only be an unfortunate coincidence that Bishop is due to travel to China for the next round of discussions on a free trade deal with Australia’s largest trading partner
Conversely, in regard the the US sending a pair of B52s into area in a “pre-planned” mission.
That’s a masterclass real politics.