Chinese and Philippine vessels faced off in back-to-back clashes in contested waters in the South China Sea throughout the weekend as tensions heightened in the dispute between the two countries over maritime territory.
You know, I remember years ago we started seeing a sonic cannon of some sort. Basically just a big, directional loudspeaker, could be cranked up to the point where it causes harm, but really its more for like protestors and stuff.
Was always kinda energy-hungry and expensive and a little too dangerous for protestors, compared to a water hose or something, so never took off. It just never had a niche.
This, right here, could be it’s niche. We should give them some to put on their old coast guard ships. They can deter pirates, and give a mechanism for self-defense without escalation.
As someone who has peacefully protested along with hundreds of others, where that was used on us, I wonder how you think this is not escalation. “to the point it causes harm” is escalation. FWIW, these weapons were first tested on Palestinians, to force them to leave their homes so Israeli settlers could assume their land. None of this is without escalation, it is precisely the point.
It’s not an escalation because it allows response in kind. The Chinese warships are not peaceful protestors, and do engage in dangerous, threatening behavior. So, something dangerous, but still non-fatal, is not an escalation in this specific case.
You know, I remember years ago we started seeing a sonic cannon of some sort. Basically just a big, directional loudspeaker, could be cranked up to the point where it causes harm, but really its more for like protestors and stuff.
Was always kinda energy-hungry and expensive and a little too dangerous for protestors, compared to a water hose or something, so never took off. It just never had a niche.
This, right here, could be it’s niche. We should give them some to put on their old coast guard ships. They can deter pirates, and give a mechanism for self-defense without escalation.
As someone who has peacefully protested along with hundreds of others, where that was used on us, I wonder how you think this is not escalation. “to the point it causes harm” is escalation. FWIW, these weapons were first tested on Palestinians, to force them to leave their homes so Israeli settlers could assume their land. None of this is without escalation, it is precisely the point.
It’s not an escalation because it allows response in kind. The Chinese warships are not peaceful protestors, and do engage in dangerous, threatening behavior. So, something dangerous, but still non-fatal, is not an escalation in this specific case.
Better than water cannons, and a lot better than bullets though, ain’t it?
In these cases, how about a wild third alternative: nonviolence.
Sure, go give it a shot.