antiterror13
Brigadier
Wondering when China would "enlarge" the islands in Paracel the same way they did in Spratly a few years ago
PLAN SCS Bases/Islands/Vessels (Not a Strategy Page)
- Thread starter lilzz
- Start date
I don't think there really is a need to turn more islands in the Paracels into the kind of "garrison islands" China has built in the Spratlys.
They are relatively close to Hainan and Woody Island should provide the necessary infrastructure and logistics hub.
If they really want to turn them into a tourist paradise ("chinese maldives") they should be left mostly as they are only adding what is necessary to build smallish or medium sized hotels.
antiterror13
Brigadier
you do know that China just completed built the largest and most advanced dredging vessel ... what do you think this for?
Depends on usage. For ecsmoke, for helicopters ooerating over sea further to the south, this range matters.
Jura The idiot
General
Tuesday at 4:35 PM
now noticed about Money Island in Twitter
La marine chinoise enchaîne les exercices navals dans les Paracels, en mer de Chine méridionale, comme pour vérifier l'état opérationnel de chaque îlot. Le prochain aura lieu le 24 Novembre sur Money Island.
Translated from French by
The Chinese Navy continues the naval exercises in the Paracels in the South China Sea, as to verify the operational status of each island. The next will take place on 24 November on Money Island.
I think Yagong Island is part of the Observation Bank, I marked it with a X.
now noticed about Money Island in Twitter
La marine chinoise enchaîne les exercices navals dans les Paracels, en mer de Chine méridionale, comme pour vérifier l'état opérationnel de chaque îlot. Le prochain aura lieu le 24 Novembre sur Money Island.
Translated from French by
The Chinese Navy continues the naval exercises in the Paracels in the South China Sea, as to verify the operational status of each island. The next will take place on 24 November on Money Island.
antiterror13
Brigadier
it would take at least 5 years to convert the lagoon to an island (Scarborough )
... but if it is considered necessary ... China would simply do it fast and accurate (and cheaper)it would take at least 5 years to convert the lagoon to an island (Scarborough )
according to my favorite commentators from Taiwan, they say the decision has been made long ago for Huangyan Island (Scarborough) everything is on standby just waiting for the political leadership to give the green light. the only reason why it wasn't done/delayed was because Du30 got elected and they paused. they will never build on Scarborough Shoal as long as Du30 is in office but his term ends in a less than 4 years and the next President would most likely be another American lap dog like Aquino. Construction would be fast and furious and Huangyan island would be the bigger than the rest of the 7 islands already built.
antiterror13
Brigadier
well, Du30 was elected in 2016 and with term of 6 year and he can't be elected for the 2nd time. 6 years mean June 2022 .... 4.5 years away. China in 2022 will be very different than 2017 .. will be much stronger. And I doubt will be another American lapdog like Aquino as the president
Why China decided to pause it after Du30 got elected?
plawolf
Lieutenant General
A) Because Beijing would have had very good intel on the character and beliefs of all the major candidates, so would have a very good idea of what to expect from each.
B) To allow the man the time and room to chart his own foreign policy, rather than have his choices limited and dictated by what China did in response to stunts pulled by his predecessor.
Had China started to reclaim Huangyan before Du30 came into office, then Du30 would have had no choice but to oppose that and had to cosy up to the Americans to do that.
By not overtly antagonising his government and people from the outset (but no doubt warnings were made to him in private about just what China could and would do if he was unwise enough to follow the footsteps of Aquino), China allowed him the freedom to break from the policies and embrace of America, which is far more valuable and useful to China than another island base.
By not starting work, China is also able to leverage that to keep Du30 and his successors in line.
If any Philippines president or government shows signs of adopting a rabid anti- Chinese stance again, he can expect a giant Chinese military base to pop up on his doorstep in a matter of years.
Conversely, if a Philippines administration doesn’t want the see that happen, then they need to play nice and consider China’s interests when making decisions.