The South China Sea, believed to hold large deposits of oil and natural gas, is contested by the governments of countries surrounding the Sea, as well as by China.
Vietnam, the Philippines, Taiwan, and Malaysia all control islands in the South China Sea. But China claims almost the entire South China Sea, rejecting rival claims from Vietnam, the Philippines, Taiwan, Malaysia and Brunei.
In 2012, China declared the region a “core national interest,” and it has been increasingly aggressive in asserting control over it, deploying an aircraft carrier in 2013, and moving an enormous oil rig into the area earlier this year.
Now, China is building its own islands, including a suspected air base, by dredging millions of tons of rock and sand and piling it on top of submerged reefs in the Spratlys.
Below is a BBC news video on some of China’s construction sites projects on five different reefs, including one that appears to be a concrete runway long enough to accommodate fighter jets.
See also:
- “China’s new map includes ‘Second National Territory’ of oceans,” July 11, 2014.
- “China threatens war in South and East China Seas,” Jan. 13, 2014.
- “Obama admin gets tougher on China over South China Sea claims,” Feb. 9, 2014.
- “Tension between China and Vietnam-Philippines ratchets up in South China Sea,” May 7, 2014.
- “China sinks VN fishing boat; deploys 3 nuclear subs to South China Sea; troops on VN border,” May 28, 2014.
- “China builds artificial island in South China Sea,” June 7, 2014.
- “Chinese warship tries to stop U.S. warship in So. China Sea’s international waters,” Dec. 13, 2013.
- “China’s irredentist nationalism and the six wars to come,” Sept. 23, 2013.
~StMA
displacedjim
George Griffin
wm2ggo
Consortium of Defense Analysts 
Reblogged this on Catholic Glasses.
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Not a surprise. The USA did the same on Johnston Island during World War II. But this points out the need to establish “facts on the ground” in the areas claimed by the PRC. Once there are troops, however few, on a bit of land, It raises the stakes for anybody who also has a claim. We need to coax our allies into doing the same on other islands or let them go to the PRC by default.
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Good suggestion, rthurs. I just don’t understand why Philippines, Vietnam, et al. aren’t putting troops in the Spratlys and constructing their own artificial islands. Instead, they are simply standing by while China presents them with faits accompli.
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Totally concur with you both.
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