Posted on 10/17/2015 8:39:14 AM PDT by Baynative
The speed and scale of Chinas island-building spree have alarmed other countries with interests in the region. China announced in June that the creation of islands moving sediment from the seafloor to a reef would soon be completed. Since then, China has focused its efforts on construction. So far the country has built port facilities, military buildings and an airstrip on the islands, and recent imagery shows evidence of two more airstrips under construction. The installations bolster Chinas foothold in the Spratly Islands, a disputed scattering of reefs and islands in the South China Sea more than 500 miles from the Chinese mainland.
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
It is compounded by Obama's fanatical environmental positions, but with nary a mention about the destruction of these ecological wonders.
Ph'nglui mglw'nafh Cthulhu R'lyeh wgah'nagl fhtagn
"In his house at R'lyeh, dead Cthulhu waits dreaming".
Isn’t this how WW2 started.....demands for lands?
Been saying it for years, China wants their version of the “The Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere.”
Meanwhile Obama throws a lavish state dinner for the current dictator of China. Just being flexible.
This is our business how?
Do you think this will be the last of China’s adventurism?
When it’s wrong you nip it in the bud. You don’t wait until the vine is strangling everything else.
They are building unsinkable aircraft carriers.
It will be interesting to see how well these outposts
stand up to a real Typhoon.
They are building artificial islands and placing air craft and warships there.That way they can claim the area is there’s and ban freedom of navigation in the area.
All the huffing and puffing and posturing by the pols and the pundits will count for nothing when Mama Gaia abruptly erases the “island” LOL
While we could, if we wanted to, expel them, there is a more prudent course:
1. Refuse to recognize OR respect their territorial claim.
2. Negotiate a permanent arrangement with the Philippines to keep substantial US assets at Clark Air Base. At least a full fighter wing.
This would deny the Chinese ALL of the strategic benefit they hoped for. All.
Then, watch the Chinese, over the years turn these reefs back into someplace for fishing boats to anchor.
Clark AB is but 400 miles from the Spratlys.
No other nation in the world benefits as greatly from free and open sea lanes than the US.
It has been the essential bedrock of our foreign policy for 70 years...and to a less enforceable degree for 230 years.
There is no more essential strategic strategic interest for the USA.
And it's worth nuclear war to keep it that way.
You need to study and learn.
Made from silt. What kind of solids were mixed into the substrate to create an aggregate and give it stability? I think a small nuke, or even a heavy load of well placed bunker busters would send it slurping under the surface.
An ecological disaster, but it’s OK because the ChiCom’s are alleged redistributionists.
For the past 45 years or so our foreign policies have been an epic country killing disaster which has looted America's national treasure. It's what happens when our so-called leaders have no clue and no problem lining their own pockets while selling the country out.
a heavy load of well placed bunker busters would send it slurping under the surface
One B2 mission with bunker busters and large bombs and I think you might be right. I would guess this is more about claiming territory than gaining tactical advantage over our military.
Let them enjoy their islands. But state the US policy is that only natural land features will be treated as part of that nation for territorial claim purposes. Sail through often.
“That way they can claim the area is theres and ban freedom of navigation in the area.”
No more valid than claiming all the water within a 12 mile limit of an offshore oil rig.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.