China's SCS Strategy Thread

Jeff Head

Jeff Head

General
Registered Member
balance said:
China means business when it comes to SCS defense and claims.

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This has been discussed on several pages already.

It is a concept...no one has been able to point to the specific contract or actual construction yet..

The US also studied these concepts for several years, both for the Mobile Offshore Base and islands. They decided not to go there. Too many eggs in one basket and too susceptible to attack and climate.

The South China Sea is subject to large, dangerous Typhoons. Depending on the category, they would represent a severe hazard to such structures.

Having said that, I believe the reclamation efforts that the PRC is involved in tell the true story.

They are wise to do things this way. They are their own holdings and does not involve taking anything from anyone else. As such, it is is a challenge to the other nations with claims in the SCS...keep up with us if you can.

The others simply cannot on their own.

I believe that the PRC is investing so much in the SCS in order to solidify their desire to make their Maritime Silk Road a reality and to solidify their SLOCs through those waters.
 
N

no_name

Colonel
9s7bkm.jpg

Subi reef 24th April 2015
 
P

PanAsian

Major
About time China made such an explicit statement about welcoming others.

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World | Thu Apr 30, 2015 10:02pm EDT Related: WORLD, CHINA
China says U.S. welcome to use civilian facilities in South China Sea
BEIJING

(Reuters) - The United States and other countries will be welcome to use civilian facilities China is building in the South China Sea for search and rescue and weather forecasting "when conditions are right", China's navy chief has told a senior U.S. officer.

China claims 90 percent of the South China Sea, which is believed to be rich in oil and gas, with overlapping claims from Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, Vietnam and Taiwan.

Recent satellite images show China has made rapid progress in building an airstrip suitable for military use in the disputed Spratly Islands and may be planning another.

Those moves, along with other reclamations, have caused alarm around the region and in Washington too, with the issue dominating a summit of Southeast Asian leaders this week, to China's displeasure.

In a teleconference with the U.S. Chief of Naval Operations Jonathan Greenert, China's navy chief Wu Shengli said China's building work in the South China Sea would not affect freedom of navigation or overflight.

"Instead, it will improve the ability in these seas of public services like weather forecasting and maritime search and rescue, fulfilling international obligations to maintain the security of international seas," Wu said, according to a Chinese Defence Ministry statement released late on Thursday.

"(We) welcome international organizations, the United States and relevant countries to use these facilities in the future when conditions are right, to have cooperation on humanitarian search and rescue and disaster relief," Wu added.

The statement cited Greenert as saying he hoped China could explain to countries in the region in a timely manner the aim of the building work. It would also be good for maintaining stability and freedom of navigation if other countries could use such facilities for joint humanitarian operations, he said.

Disputes over how to tackle an increasingly assertive stance by China - an ally of several Southeast Asian states - in the strategic South China Sea make the issue the region's biggest potential military flashpoint.

China this week accused Vietnam, the Philippines and others of carrying out their own illegal building work.

While the militaries of China and the United States have worked hard to improve communication and cooperation, there is still deep mistrust. In 2013, a U.S. guided missile cruiser narrowly avoided a collision with a Chinese warship in the South China Sea.

Wu said U.S. surveillance operations were "totally out of step" with efforts to improve their military relations.

(Reporting by Ben Blanchard; Editing by Paul Tait)
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Equation

Equation

Lieutenant General
PanAsian said:
About time China made such an explicit statement about welcoming others.

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Blackstone said:
But, are the sweet words fig leaves to conceal their true purpose of de facto SCS consolidation and ownership (hint, the answer rhymes with guess)?
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It keeps the China accusations at bay and helps provide humanitarian safe haven for commercial ships. Like satellites it has dual purpose uses including militarily. If the US or other players want's to join in they can start having their own island reclamation project like China does because no one other than budget is stopping them.
 
J

joshuatree

Captain
A smart move, I wonder if this was always planned or if this is a counter move just recently decided upon. However, it does fall in line with my previous comments that China should use its soft power better in this area by such actions.

Considering the number of islands reclaimed and the admiral's comment of using civilian facilities, it's too early to know what amenities will be available but if some of these islands are developed with eco-tourism in mind, that can be R&R. Main point is, the Chinese admiral offered to the USN. Whether the USN wants to do so or not will be their prerogative but it effectively blunts accusations of denial of navigation.

If China provides the use of facilities to other countries or in a way that benefits other countries, it will further blunt the opposition. Some potential uses:

- Medical facilities and related facilities for SAR
- Instruct its CG to start assisting all ships in distress in the area no matter the situation (and separate it from other issues - sovereignty, EEZ, fishing, etc)
- Allow scientific missions such as perhaps one of the runways for Hurricane Hunters (SCS is prone to typhoons every year)
- Allow to host/lead an international flotilla for anti-piracy patrol missions similar to CTF-151 specifically for SCS as piracy has been steadily increasing (probably be welcomed by Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore)
- Create a fish market/trade center that can help lead or set a gentlemen's agreement on yearly catches from those waters which would demonstrate an initiative to manage resources properly

None of the other claimants have even come close to doing this so if China does it first, huge win in my opinion.
 
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