Th e fact that this was nounced in the clear, including that it would be within 24 hours, tells you that the US and China both know when and where it is going to happen.
The US will sale within 12 miles of one of these articical islands.
(See my Flickr albumn about these islands here:)
https://www.flickr.com/photos/jeff_head/albums/72157653161943872
China will issue warnings.
That will be the end of it.
The US will uphold FON, and China will claim that they warned the Americans not to get too close.
My guess is that wee will honor a 3-4 nmi limit for the artificial islands...but not a 12 nmi limit which is accorded for continental land masses, or actual islands.
Interesting times!
In a few years China will have 3 or 4 airbases in this sea. The US is clearly fighting a losing battle.
That will be the end of it.
Yep, you were right. That appears to be that. Glad it didn't lead to anything serious after all. Maintaining a 12 mile distance pretty much telegraphs there isn't much we're going to do about China's island building - O continues to embarrassed the nation with his antics.