PLAN SCS Bases/Islands/Vessels (Not a Strategy Page)

Blackstone · May 7, 2015

jacksprat said:
So just how is sending an uninvited intelligence collection ship along considered good manners, seems rude to me.

It was a message and a mild protest on exclusion from part of the dog and pony show.

Zetageist · May 7, 2015

jacksprat said:
So just how is sending an uninvited intelligence collection ship along considered good manners, seems rude to me.

China has always been complaining of US operating surveillance activities within China's EEZ. Now that China has sent an uninvited intelligence collection ship to this event near Hawaii. US said welcome, which implying that US could do the same to China - continuing its intelligence gathering near China's coast.

PanAsian · May 7, 2015

Zetageist said:
China has always been complaining of US operating surveillance activities within China's EEZ. Now that China has sent an uninvited intelligence collection ship to this event near Hawaii. US said welcome, which implying that US could do the same to China - continuing its intelligence gathering near China's coast.

Yep, it is a game of "keep up if you can" same as with the island reclamations except that in the game of surveillance patrols China is the underdog.

Blackstone · May 7, 2015

Zetageist said:
China has always been complaining of US operating surveillance activities within China's EEZ. Now that China has sent an uninvited intelligence collection ship to this event near Hawaii. US said welcome, which implying that US could do the same to China - continuing its intelligence gathering near China's coast.

How could PRC leaders possibly have problems with US "democracy promotion" (regime change) inside China, while its drones, planes, ships, and submarines roam a few dozen miles up and down China's shores 24/7/365? I can't see any reason why a "responsible stakeholder" would object to that.

Jeff Head · May 8, 2015

jacksprat said:
So just how is sending an uninvited intelligence collection ship along considered good manners, seems rude to me.

Well, the comment of mine you quoted said nothing of this.

However, since you mentioned it...everyone does this, including the US.

When you conduct operations in the open ocean, you usually set up some kind of exclusion zone. Foreign nations routinely come right up to the edge of those zones, and sometimes cross over, to gather intelligence.

Including the US.

In peace time this is pretty routine as long as they do not hazard the other vessels.

Zetageist · May 8, 2015

Expert: Chinese reclamation 'tampers with evidence' on Manila arbitration case
By: Ernie Reyes, InterAksyon.com
May 8, 2015 3:28 PM

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.....

Loopholes in Manila legal position
To a large extent, Batongbacal also said, China is taking advantage of loopholes in the Philippines' legal position.

"This is on account of our implicit assumption that all islands are individually entitled to only 12 nautical miles territorial seas, leaving only Palawan's 200 nautical miles EEZ/CS to reckon with in determining legal rights over Chinese-occupied features," Batongbacal said.

"It also exploits Manila's concession that some of the Chinese position are entitled at least to 12 nautical miles territorial sea zones," he added.

Batongbacal said, apart from the limitations of the Philippine case as formulated, China is also relying on its trump card in the dispute: the status and potential maritime zones of Itu Aba.

Itu Aba Island is one of the northern Spratly Islands, and, since 1955, has been claimed and occupied by Taiwan. Itu Aba lies in the northwestern part of the Tizard Bank, a large coral reef with several islands on it, like Namyit Island (Vietnam). The Taiwanese call it Taiping Island.

"If Itu Aba were to generate a full 200 nautical miles EEZ (unlikely though it may be), the median line between it and Palawan would encompass all of the Chinese-occupied features including Mischief Reef. This clearly requires maritime delimitation which is outside the scope of the arbitration case," Batongbacal said.

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Equation · May 9, 2015

The report also warned that China has made major strides with a range of satellites as well as anti-satellite jammers, saying it now had "the most dynamic space program in the world today."

Previous reports have noted China's focus on cyber and space weapons but this year's document included a special section on the country's massive dredging and island building in the strategic South China Sea.

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joshuatree · May 12, 2015

Found some lower altitude pics.

Subi Reef

Mischief Reef

Johnson South Reef - I'm guessing the structures on the left side are a central plant of sort.

ahojunk · May 12, 2015

joshuatree said:
Found some lower altitude pics.

Subi Reef

Wow! Just look at the number of cranes on Subi Island. There are lots of construction activities going on.

Its current estimated size is 2.39 sq km. But when it's all done, it will be bigger than Yongshu Island.

joshuatree said:
Mischief Reef

There are so many ships/dredgers working on Meiji Island. Incredible.
The current estimated size is 3.10 sq km, which makes it the biggest in SCS.

joshuatree said:
Johnson South Reef - I'm guessing the structures on the left side are a central plant of sort.

This pic was taken in March 2015. So I would expect it to be more developed now. Looking at the way things are going, a lot could happen in 2 months.

Chigua is now a small township capable of becoming a nice tourist resort in the SCS. We can be sure there are lots of rooms with a nice view.
:china:

Jeff Head · May 12, 2015

Guys, SD is not a fan boy site or a place to do chest thumping.

What the PRC is doing in the SCS is amazing, but we also have members here from all over the world, including places you are throwing out these chest thumping and flame bait comments to.

Those posts have been deleted. Let's try and keep our conversation and dialog above that.

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PLAN SCS Bases/Islands/Vessels (Not a Strategy Page)

Blackstone

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PanAsian

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joshuatree

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