[Leaning Right]

There is a picture of the airstrip at the link. It's actually rather impressive. But don't worry. A US spokesman has urged China to "restrain themselves". So that will certainly put an end to all the construction.

[C19fan]

This reminds me when Louis XIV started grabbing land from the Holy Roman Empire in the Rhineland. Eventually the other European powers had enough and war broke out.

[WKUHilltopper]

If I were Taiwan and knowing how Odingbat likes to hide under desks, I’d be sweating bullets.

[StoneWall Brigade]

Ping

[Mr. Jeeves]

It's all about oil. If China gets a stable, reliable source, all this expensive military adventurism will come to an end.

And it just so happens we have plenty in Alaska, not far away. Those who constantly complain about the trade deficit should approve of balancing it out by trading Alaskan oil for Chinese cash.

[blueunicorn6]

That’s a dredge deepening the harbor.

[aegiscg47]

This is more a political move than a military one. In any kind of a war that island is going to get plastered and there won't be anything left on it within a few hours. China is trying to threaten its neighbors into getting its way, but militarily this doesn't add much to the equation.

[McGruff]

You take the East and I take the West. Deal?

[Tijeras_Slim]

Purely humanitarian... when MH370 pops back out of the wormhole that swallowed it, the runway will be waiting.

[JoeFromSidney]

I can remember when runways like that were called "unsinkable aircraft carriers."