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

Geographer said:

Thanks for the high resolution photos, confusion!

Are new helipads being built at Hughes, Cuarteron, Johnson South, and Gaven reefs, or are they going to rely solely on the helipads attached to the old forts?

I'm surprised to see a new strand of land emanating from the base at Hughes Reef because it started so late in the project. What do people think it will be?

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if you compare the above photo of Hughes Reef (27 May 2015) and the photo from Jeff's flickr here


It is clearly that the strand of land (left bottom) was reclaimed from 5 to 27 May 2015, in just 3 weeks!. Wondering what Hughes Reef would look like today 22 June 2015 .... roughly 4 weeks later

confusion said:

The same article as the one recently published in the Diplomat, but includes a few supplementary pics; shows recent minor reclamation and improvements to the smaller reclamation works:

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It appears that reclamation at the 4 "fort" sites, has finished - perhaps a bit of maintenance shoring here and there but mostly those appear completed, with ongoing building construction.

CCTV.com
06-22-2015 23:21 BJT

China has unveiled its development plan for civil-use construction projects on its islands in the South China Sea.

According to a statement released by the National Development and Reform Commission- China's top economic and development planner- a batch of facilities for telecommunication, navigation, environmental monitoring, disaster relief, transportation and production, and logistical support will be constructed.

Key projects include large-scale lighthouses on international shipping routes, maritime security and communication facilities, as well as support for emergency rescue and salvage. Facilities will also be built to provide supply, shelter, maintenance and repair services to ships passing by.

Meteorological centers to monitor tsunamis, earthquakes and the maritime environment, as well as maritime research centers, will also be constructed. A large scale medical and emergency center will also be built to satisfy future medical needs, alongside waste water and garbage processing facilities. Experts says these projects will further promote international cooperation in the South China Sea. 

"There are two main purposes for China's reclamation activities on its islands in the South China Sea," said Ruan Zongze, Executive VP for China Institute of Int'l Studies, "One is to improve the living and working environment for the personnel based on the islands. The other purpose is so that China can shoulder more international responsibilities and obligations. After the construction is completed, the facilities on the islands can be opened to countries surrounding the South China Sea, as well as international organizations and the international community."

Nansha Islands = Spratly Islands
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Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi speaks at the luncheon of the fourth World Peace Forum in Beijing, capital of China, June 27, 2015. (Xinhua/Ding Haitao)

BEIJING, June 27 (Xinhua) -- China is determined and able to continue to safeguard its justified rights and interests of the Nansha Islands by legitimate means, Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Saturday.

"On the Nansha Islands issues, we have resolute determination and enough capabilities. We will continue to take reasonable and legitimate approaches to safeguard our justified rights and interests of the Nansha Islands. We will work with the ASEAN countries to ensure peace and stability of the Nansha Islands," Wang said when asked to comment on the Nansha Islands issue.

Wang delivered a speech at the luncheon of the Fourth World Peace Forum which took place at prestigious Tsinghua University on Saturday.

Wang said China will work with other countries to safeguard the freedom of navigation and overflight enjoyed by all countries in accordance with international law in the South China Sea.

On China's recent land reclamation project on some stationed islands and reefs of the Nansha Islands, Wang said the major aim is to improve the working and living conditions of the people on the islands and reefs.

As a big power, China also offered some public goods to the international community by put in place those facilities on the islands and reefs for civilian use, Wang said. ' "China's necessary construction on its own islands and reefs are totally different in nature from some countries' seizure of Chinese islands and building facilities there," Wang said.

Wang stressed China's sovereignty over the Nansha Islands is legally supported and based on facts, saying China fell victim to some countries' seizure and occupation of its islands and reefs since the exploration of oil in the South China Sea back to 1960s.

Wang said the Chinese government has always dealt with the Nansha Islands issue by peaceful means, citing the fact that China and ASEAN countries signed the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea.

"The Chinese government's position on the Nansha Islands is consistent. We will not change it," Wang said.

"China's sovereignty claim over the Nansha Islands has neither expanded nor dwindled," Wang said, calling on some countries to end the seizure and occupation of China's islands and reefs.

Very strong statements by the Chinese Foreign Minister. Diplomacy calls for listening to the other parties OR leave it to arbitration by a neutral organisation like the UN legal arm - UNCLOS to solve disagreements amicably. Pushing & showing military/naval might will only worsen the situation in the South China Sea, and eventually leads to unwarranted clashes,

advill said:

Very strong statements by the Chinese Foreign Minister. Diplomacy calls for listening to the other parties OR leave it to arbitration by a neutral organisation like the UN legal arm - UNCLOS to solve disagreements amicably. Pushing & showing military/naval might will only worsen the situation in the South China Sea, and eventually leads to unwarranted clashes,

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calling on some countries to end the seizure and occupation of China's islands and reefs.

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Stop stealing Chinese territories while making false claims than there won't be any "unwarranted clashes" right?

Only China says it is their territory - not the 5 other claimants: Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Taiwan & Brunei who in turn can accuse China of stealing their territories.. So it appears that China is preparing and willing to take aggressive actions - a reflection of Chinese kind of "diplomacy"?

advill said:

Only China says it is their territory - not the 5 other claimants: Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Taiwan & Brunei who in turn can accuse China of stealing their territories.. So it appears that China is preparing and willing to take aggressive actions - a reflection of Chinese kind of "diplomacy"?

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Not exactly seeing claimants like Vietnam use diplomacy, they seem to be preparing and taking aggressive actions too. So the argument keeps going in circles.

advill said:

Only China says it is their territory - not the 5 other claimants: Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Taiwan & Brunei who in turn can accuse China of stealing their territories.. So it appears that China is preparing and willing to take aggressive actions - a reflection of Chinese kind of "diplomacy"?

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Other claimants has to depend on status quo and the so called international norm in order to make their false claims legit. That's why they hate to use history as evidence because they would have lose the arguments a long time ago.

Equation said:

Other claimants has to depend on status quo and the so called international norm in order to make their false claims legit. That's why they hate to use history as evidence because they would have lose the arguments a long time ago.

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Using history as evidence would be analogous to Italy producing a map of the Roman Empire in AD96, claiming the Isle of Man, sending coast guard vessels to said location, and beginning construction.

A Spanish funded Italian happened upon the Western Hemisphere, but Spain does not claim Honduras.

Leif Erikson landed in what is now Canada, but Iceland does not claim Newfoundland.

Scores of such examples could be made.