joshuatree
Captain
Third pic shows a possible turret on the far right as well.
PLAN SCS Bases/Islands/Vessels (Not a Strategy Page)
- Thread starter lilzz
- Start date
Third pic shows a possible turret on the far right as well.
antiterror13
Brigadier
Very very nice photo Ahojunk ..... I have been wondering why China didn't (or haven't) continue the reclamation on Zhubi Island as shown in red circles, that would be much better and would have extra ~ 200 hectares of land
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From what I know, China has done extensive surveys and has a master plan for the reclamation.
They must have their reasons why the "parts in red circles" are not reclaimed.
Maybe the large opening is to allow water movement and hence maintain its quality, but I don't really know. This is also the same for Meiji Island where the entire reef is not reclaimed.
The area of Zhubi Island is currently 3.95 sq km. Maybe this area is enough for what China plans to do.
I noticed the three airstrips at Yongshu, Zhubi and Meiji are all aligned in a NE - SW direction. Maybe this is to take advantage of the wind direction or some other logistical reason. I have to say it's all speculation on my part.
antiterror13
Brigadier
Yes, I am sure there must be some strong reasons .... I was wondering as it seems to me the red circles quite shallow, shouldn't be any problem technically
plawolf
Lieutenant General
They are left as natural wave breakers, and are facing the most common direction Typhoons and other tropical storms typically come from.
The shallow submerged reefs, together with the deep lagoon left behind it, serves as a natural, regenative and highly effective buffer against natural wave erosion and storm surges.
The shallow reef causes waves to crest and slow down as they hit it, just as if they were hitting land proper, taking most of the energy from the waves. The lagoon acts as a buffer and reservoir to further absorb any left over energy, such that what waves hit the actual island is a gentle nudge compared to the battering ram they would have been without all those features slowing it down massively beforehand.
It's no accident that the areas that were naturally above water at high tide are where they were, and that is because of the reasons highlighted above also. And submerged blockers are often used as a form of coastal defence near harbours or areas under threat of erosion. But they are not nearly as effective as natural coral reefs, and are suceptable to erosion, whereas coral reefs are self regenerating.
I am deeply heartened by these choices made by China engineers, because it shows that not only do they have a very sound grasp on the fundamental engineer principles, they also have a healthy respect for nature, and are not blinded by hubris into not giving nature the respect she demands.
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CRI, June 7, 2016
It's been reported that lighthouses on two reefs in the South China Sea will be put into use at the end of the year.
Photo taken on Oct. 9, 2015 shows a lighthouse on Huayang Reef of China's Nansha Islands.
[Photo: Xinhua]
Workers are stepping up the construction of the two lighthouses on Meiji and Yongshu reefs.
They were designed to provide navigation services such as positioning reference and navigation safety information to ships in the vicinity.
The lighthouse on Meiji Reef is over 60 meters high and is the tallest of all the structures on the Nansha Islands.
It has a range of over 20 nautical miles.
Meanwhile, a modern hospital will also be completed on Yongshu Reef later this month.
In April, China finished the construction of a lighthouse on Zhubi Reef, also in the South China Sea area.
Ok, besides building above the water level, China is also looking at building deep in the SCS.
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Published time: 10 Jun, 2016 14:06
China plans to continue to develop the South China Sea. This time, Beijing has set a goal to build an oceanic ‘space station’, as deep as 3,000 meters underwater, Bloomberg reports, quoting a Science Ministry presentation.
If successful, this will be the first project for long-term human habitation at such depths.
"Having this kind of long-term inhabited station has not been attempted this deep, but it is certainly possible. Manned submersibles have gone to those depths for almost 50 years. The challenge is operating it for months at a time,”Bryan Clark from the Washington-based Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments told Bloomberg.
At present, there is no information on the costs and timeline, but Beijing had previously talked about the importance of developing the deep waters of the South China Sea.
"The deep sea contains treasures that remain undiscovered and undeveloped, and in order to obtain these treasures we have to control key technologies in getting into the deep sea, discovering the deep sea, and developing the deep sea,"Chinese President Xi Jinping told reporters last month at a national science conference.
The South China Sea is an area of territorial dispute between Asian countries, including China, Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, Vietnam and others.
China’s claim is the biggest, and Beijing is propping it up by creating artificial islands, which have inflamed tensions with neighbors and the United States. Washington is accusing Beijing of constructing the islands for military purposes, while China has demanded US warships and military aircraft stay away from the islands.
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Published time: 10 Jun, 2016 14:06
China plans to continue to develop the South China Sea. This time, Beijing has set a goal to build an oceanic ‘space station’, as deep as 3,000 meters underwater, Bloomberg reports, quoting a Science Ministry presentation.
If successful, this will be the first project for long-term human habitation at such depths.
"Having this kind of long-term inhabited station has not been attempted this deep, but it is certainly possible. Manned submersibles have gone to those depths for almost 50 years. The challenge is operating it for months at a time,”Bryan Clark from the Washington-based Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments told Bloomberg.
At present, there is no information on the costs and timeline, but Beijing had previously talked about the importance of developing the deep waters of the South China Sea.
"The deep sea contains treasures that remain undiscovered and undeveloped, and in order to obtain these treasures we have to control key technologies in getting into the deep sea, discovering the deep sea, and developing the deep sea,"Chinese President Xi Jinping told reporters last month at a national science conference.
The South China Sea is an area of territorial dispute between Asian countries, including China, Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, Vietnam and others.
China’s claim is the biggest, and Beijing is propping it up by creating artificial islands, which have inflamed tensions with neighbors and the United States. Washington is accusing Beijing of constructing the islands for military purposes, while China has demanded US warships and military aircraft stay away from the islands.
antiterror13
Brigadier
Interesting and promising news. I know this is from Chinese website, so samuraiblue may take it as a grain of salt ..... its ok, we just move on
I think this is going to be great for both countries and opportunity for China to show the world that it can be done like China has done many times with other neighbouring countries but India (I mean, China has resolved all land border disputes/issues with all 13 countries, only India left)
Manila's new leader sends positive signal to Beijing
example Chinese border treaties/agreements
I think this is going to be great for both countries and opportunity for China to show the world that it can be done like China has done many times with other neighbouring countries but India (I mean, China has resolved all land border disputes/issues with all 13 countries, only India left)
Manila's new leader sends positive signal to Beijing
example Chinese border treaties/agreements
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If you take a cruise to the Xisha Islands, this is what you will see......
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By Li Xiaokun (China Daily) Updated: 2016-06-10 07:51
Cruises offer laid-back lifestyle and maritime romance
When I stepped on the bobbing vessel heading for the Xisha Islands, two words that have frequently appeared in my daily news reports, I was expecting an arduous week on a remote island.
However, after an exhausting 15-hour trip from Wenchang, Hainan province, I was astonished by the dreamlike light-green morning sea stretching in front of me as we approached the harbor of Yongxing Island.
The spectrum of colors was more vibrant, more gasp-inducing than I had seen in the Maldives.
It was a perfect start to the Xisha trip, in which my colleagues and I cast our media net, like fishermen, to gather stories of the island, the location of Sansha, the southernmost Chinese city which administers an area of about 2 million square kilometers in the South China Sea. We also got a chance to truly appreciate its scenic lure and enjoy the laid-back island lifestyle.
The beach of Yongxing Island offers clean sand and water. [Photo provided to China Daily]
A marine affairs officer pointed out to me "how quickly clouds move here"－so there is not much rain on the island. In its darkest corner meteors can be seen slashing the night sky about every 10 minutes.
For three hours from midday we had to take shelter from the scorching sun. But as the sun set as we strolled along the harbor accompanied by a warm southerly breeze beside the crystal-clear seawater dotted with rocks, we chatted without a care in the world as the sun surrendered its glare and consumed for another day by the sea.
Approaching vessels, waiting to enter the harbor turned their lights on, providing us with a fairytale vista as if the nighttime ocean was decorated just for us.
It was impossible, with the dark vast sea stretching to infinity, and the waves serenading us as they crashed onto the rocks, not to be at peace.
The city government of Sansha is located on Yongxing Island. [Photo provided to China Daily]
The lush foliage on Zhaoshu Island is set off by the aqua of the surrounding ocean. [Photo provided to China Daily]
One day, we joined a group of islanders we had just interviewed to comb the beach. Crabs, conches and various kinds of fish were there for the taking. A colleague scooped up beautiful shells from the beach, which was littered with broken coral reefs.
The notice said it is not allowed to walk with bare feet or flimsy shoes on Yagong Island. Covering a tiny area of just 0.01 sq km, it has no earth or sand, but just dead coral reefs and shells. Tourists can dine at a traditional fishermen's cafe to relish boiled fresh sea cucumbers, trumpet tritons and grouper that just seem to melt in contact with the mouth.
Many friends on land were curious about my visit there after I posted some photos on my wechat account－in their mind the Xisha Islands is a mysterious area, generally closed to the public.
I told them cruise ships have been sailing from Sanya, in southern Hainan province, to several islands in Xisha since April 2013. There were 65 trips last year, with 16,000 passengers making the journey.
I checked the route of the only ship running from Sanya to the Xisha Islands, Star of Beibu Gulf, from Hainan Strait Shipping. The four-night trip takes tourists to the islands of Yagong, Quanfu and Yinyu.
The fee for the trip ranges from 3,230 yuan ($491) to 20,150 in June.
The ship can accommodate 300 passengers on four to five trips every month. It takes 13 hours to arrive at the Xisha Islands from Sanya.
Tourists will have a new choice in July, with a larger cruise ship from Sanya to the Xisha Islands set to start operating.
Zhaoshu Island has well-built facilities and lush gardens. [Photo provided to China Daily]
Visitors will be able to spend nights on the islands. Sansha Mayor Xiao Jie told me in an exclusive interview that the city will become a major tourist attraction comparable to the Maldives.
The city, he said, will develop some islands and reefs to accommodate a select number of tourists.
The sites open to the public and tourists will be islands and reefs that do not need a military presence, he added. So far, to my knowledge, only citizens from the Chinese mainland can take the cruises.
Though far from the Chinese mainland, Xiao said, tourists will not face unreasonable charges, though the route is very popular.
Seagulls fly beside a ship cruising China's Xisha Islands. [Photo provided to China Daily]
Food on the islands will be "definitely cheaper than on Hainan island", he said, adding that the Sansha government will pay close attention to tourism management, including pricing. Tourists are instructed to take away any garbage they produce on the islands.
Seaplanes, introduced this year, will give tourists, literally, a different perspective. Fishing and diving will be on the itinerary, along with island weddings for romantics.
In the future, flights to Sansha from Haikou or Sanya will be available, said the mayor.
Contact the writer at Li [email protected]
Passengers disembark after a cruise. [Zhang Yunbi/China Daily]
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By Li Xiaokun (China Daily) Updated: 2016-06-10 07:51
Cruises offer laid-back lifestyle and maritime romance
When I stepped on the bobbing vessel heading for the Xisha Islands, two words that have frequently appeared in my daily news reports, I was expecting an arduous week on a remote island.
However, after an exhausting 15-hour trip from Wenchang, Hainan province, I was astonished by the dreamlike light-green morning sea stretching in front of me as we approached the harbor of Yongxing Island.
The spectrum of colors was more vibrant, more gasp-inducing than I had seen in the Maldives.
It was a perfect start to the Xisha trip, in which my colleagues and I cast our media net, like fishermen, to gather stories of the island, the location of Sansha, the southernmost Chinese city which administers an area of about 2 million square kilometers in the South China Sea. We also got a chance to truly appreciate its scenic lure and enjoy the laid-back island lifestyle.
The beach of Yongxing Island offers clean sand and water. [Photo provided to China Daily]
A marine affairs officer pointed out to me "how quickly clouds move here"－so there is not much rain on the island. In its darkest corner meteors can be seen slashing the night sky about every 10 minutes.
For three hours from midday we had to take shelter from the scorching sun. But as the sun set as we strolled along the harbor accompanied by a warm southerly breeze beside the crystal-clear seawater dotted with rocks, we chatted without a care in the world as the sun surrendered its glare and consumed for another day by the sea.
Approaching vessels, waiting to enter the harbor turned their lights on, providing us with a fairytale vista as if the nighttime ocean was decorated just for us.
It was impossible, with the dark vast sea stretching to infinity, and the waves serenading us as they crashed onto the rocks, not to be at peace.
The city government of Sansha is located on Yongxing Island. [Photo provided to China Daily]
The lush foliage on Zhaoshu Island is set off by the aqua of the surrounding ocean. [Photo provided to China Daily]
One day, we joined a group of islanders we had just interviewed to comb the beach. Crabs, conches and various kinds of fish were there for the taking. A colleague scooped up beautiful shells from the beach, which was littered with broken coral reefs.
The notice said it is not allowed to walk with bare feet or flimsy shoes on Yagong Island. Covering a tiny area of just 0.01 sq km, it has no earth or sand, but just dead coral reefs and shells. Tourists can dine at a traditional fishermen's cafe to relish boiled fresh sea cucumbers, trumpet tritons and grouper that just seem to melt in contact with the mouth.
Many friends on land were curious about my visit there after I posted some photos on my wechat account－in their mind the Xisha Islands is a mysterious area, generally closed to the public.
I told them cruise ships have been sailing from Sanya, in southern Hainan province, to several islands in Xisha since April 2013. There were 65 trips last year, with 16,000 passengers making the journey.
I checked the route of the only ship running from Sanya to the Xisha Islands, Star of Beibu Gulf, from Hainan Strait Shipping. The four-night trip takes tourists to the islands of Yagong, Quanfu and Yinyu.
The fee for the trip ranges from 3,230 yuan ($491) to 20,150 in June.
The ship can accommodate 300 passengers on four to five trips every month. It takes 13 hours to arrive at the Xisha Islands from Sanya.
Tourists will have a new choice in July, with a larger cruise ship from Sanya to the Xisha Islands set to start operating.
Zhaoshu Island has well-built facilities and lush gardens. [Photo provided to China Daily]
Visitors will be able to spend nights on the islands. Sansha Mayor Xiao Jie told me in an exclusive interview that the city will become a major tourist attraction comparable to the Maldives.
The city, he said, will develop some islands and reefs to accommodate a select number of tourists.
The sites open to the public and tourists will be islands and reefs that do not need a military presence, he added. So far, to my knowledge, only citizens from the Chinese mainland can take the cruises.
Though far from the Chinese mainland, Xiao said, tourists will not face unreasonable charges, though the route is very popular.
Seagulls fly beside a ship cruising China's Xisha Islands. [Photo provided to China Daily]
Food on the islands will be "definitely cheaper than on Hainan island", he said, adding that the Sansha government will pay close attention to tourism management, including pricing. Tourists are instructed to take away any garbage they produce on the islands.
Seaplanes, introduced this year, will give tourists, literally, a different perspective. Fishing and diving will be on the itinerary, along with island weddings for romantics.
In the future, flights to Sansha from Haikou or Sanya will be available, said the mayor.
Contact the writer at Li [email protected]
Passengers disembark after a cruise. [Zhang Yunbi/China Daily]
antiterror13
Brigadier
Ahojunk .... so beautiful and you are so lucky 