Posted on 11/01/2018 7:27:50 AM PDT by blam
China is set to significantly expand its presence in Antarctica as it takes the crucial step of establishing its first permanent airport and large landing strip close to its small research outpost, Zhongshan station. After nearly a decade of planning construction of the airport is set to begin in November, which state media and officials are calling a “permanent” base.
Notably, according to Chinese state-run Xinhua News the airfield will support China’s Antarctic “strategy needs” and protect China’s right to speak on “Antarctic airspace control”.
The location is near the Zhongshan Research Station, which opened in 1989 and is one of two such research outposts, on the east Antarctic coast near the Larsemann Hills, and the project will be overseen by the official Polar Research Institute of China. Chinese media reports details that the airport is to be constructed at a spot about 28 km away from Zhongshan, with a sizable runway at 1,500m long and 80m wide. It is to primarily serve scientists and staff working in the isolated region.
However, it’s no doubt already gotten the attention of American military planners and China observers as it began making headlines Monday, especially after last month Beijing rolled out with its first domestically built icebreaker, this also following the Chinese government releasing “China’s Arctic Policy” in early 2018 — a white paper outlining how China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) will construct infrastructure projects along the northern Arctic routes, and urged its largest shipping companies to conduct trial voyages through the frigid waters. Could Antarctic exploration, on the polar opposite side the globe, be part of a broader vision of a “Polar Silk Road” which aims to find “alternate” routes and spheres of influence to bypass Washington’s choke points in the South China Sea and the Indian Ocean
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(Excerpt) Read more at conservativeangle.com ...
How long before China has AT-ATs marching through Antarctica?
No! The US needs to sustain its presence and dominance. Declare it American territory. It is assured that if we let China there, they will do so and try shoving us aside.
On my most recent visit to that same city,in 2016,rush hour was bumper to bumper Toyotas,Hyundais and cars that I had never heard of (probably Chinese)...and air so dirty that it was 10 times worse than anything I've ever seen in the Rhur Valley,New Jersey or the LA Basin.
The civilized nations of then world will come to regret...SERIOUSLY REGRET...that decision somewhere down the line.Perhaps not in *my* lifetime but certainly within the lifetimes of my kids and grand kids.
If the global warmers are correct, then Antarctica may be livable in a few years.
How about a Air Force missile base on Taiwan ?
Well the Chinese Leader Yogi Bear said China will control the World within 5 years
Thier economy is collapsing thanks to Trumps tariffs. Soon it will be the commies that will need to look for cover!
U.S. Icebreaker Fleet Is Overdue For An Upgrade
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What ice breaker fleet? We effectively have none. Until we start to build numerous nuclear powered heavy ice breakers, we may a well just confine ice breaking to the Great lakes ... when the ice breakers aren’t frozen in ... As far as ice breakers go, the US is a joke, and it is on us ...
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