This page has been archived and commenting is disabled.
China Completes Island Construction, Will Now Build Military Facilities
“I’m an amateur student of history and I’m reminded of ... how Germany was testing the waters and what the response was by various other European powers... But unfortunately, up to the annexation of the Sudetenland, Czechoslovakia, the annexation of the entire country of Czechoslovakia, nobody said stop. If somebody said stop to Hitler at that point in time, or to Germany at that time, would we have avoided World War II.”
That piece of revisionist history is brought to you by Benigno Aquino and is excerpted from a speech the Philippine President gave to the Japanese parliament earlier this month.
Aquino was of course referring to China’s controversial land reclamation efforts in the South China Sea. Beijing’s construction of some 2,000 acres of new sovereign territory atop reefs in the Spratly archipelago has alarmed the country’s neighbors and drawn sharp condemnation from Washington, with President Obama accusing China of “throwing elbows” and using its size and relative to power to “bully” nations with competing South China Sea claims and Defense Secretary Ashton Carter assuring Asia Pac allies that the US will sail and navigate wherever it pleases.
For its part, China has ratcheted up the rhetoric, saying its Navy and Air Force will adopt “offensive” strategies if necessary and claiming that, if threatened, it will establish a no-fly zone over its new islands. The US also claims Beijing had at one point positioned artillery in the Spratlys although it has apparently been either moved or hidden since being spotted by a PA-8 Poseidon spy plane.
The Philippines, in an effort to counter a series of Chinese documentary films that aired in 2013, ran a video called “Karapatan sa Dagat” or “Maritime Rights” on Independence Day. Reuters has more:
"Our objective is to inform our people," Charles Jose, the foreign ministry spokesman, said adding they hoped to "rally support of our people behind our Philippine government's policy and action".
The Philippines has filed an arbitration case against China, which claims almost the entire South China Sea, believed to be rich in energy resources and where $5 trillion ship-borne trade passes every year. Brunei,
Malaysia, Vietnam and Taiwan also have claims on the sea.
In 2013, China's state-run CCTV network aired an eight-part documentary called "Journey on the South China Sea", a rare peak into how Beijing was trying to consolidate its claims in the disputed sea.
The "video war" comes as China rapidly expands its footprint in the South China Sea, constructing at least one airstrip and other military facilities on reclaimed land in the Spratly islands.
Now, the Chinese foreign ministry is out with a statement indicating the country has nearly completed its construction projects. While this could be viewed as a sign that China has effectively backed down, albeit on its own terms and at its discretion (i.e. saying the project is “complete” is something different than saying the project has been halted due to international pressure), that will likely come as no consolation to the US and its allies because even as China signaled an end to its dredging activities, it also implicitly admitted that it will continue to build military facilities on the islands, although this was buried in the fine print.
“Apart from satisfying the need of necessary military defense, the main purpose of China's construction activities is to meet various civilian demands and better perform China's international obligations,” the foreign ministry said, before saying that “after the land reclamation, we will start the building of facilities to meet relevant functional requirements.”
Since one of the “relevant functional requirements” is “satisfying the need of necessary military defense,” it seems China will continue to construct just the type of facilities on the islands that have become the subject of intense controversy. WSJ has more color:
China said it is shifting work on disputed South China Sea islets from the dredging of land to the construction of military and other facilities as it pushes forward with a program that has aggravated tensions with the U.S. and neighbors.
Analysts say the imminent end to China’s island-building work could signal a willingness to seek compromise with Washington and rival claimants in the South China Sea, even as it demonstrates Beijing’s ability to unilaterally dictate terms in the long-standing dispute.
“This is a step toward halting land reclamation, which the U.S. has demanded, and at the same time, China can tell its people that it has accomplished what it wanted to do,” said Huang Jing, an expert on Chinese foreign policy at the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy in Singapore.
“China unilaterally started the land reclamation and now China is unilaterally stopping it,” Mr. Huang said. “China is showing that—as a major power—it can control escalation, that it has the initiative, and that it can do what it sees fit for its interests.”
The Philippines’ Foreign Ministry said it is awaiting official confirmation from Beijing on its Tuesday statement, while the Vietnamese and Malaysian foreign ministries and the U.S. Embassy in Beijing didn’t immediately respond to requests for comment.
China’s statement came on the final day for Beijing to submit comments to an international arbitration tribunal that is considering the Philippines’ territorial claims in the South China Sea.
For its part, China wants nothing to do with arbitration proceedings in The Hague, contends The United Nations has no jurisdiction, and says it will not recognize the tribunal's verdict.
In other words, expect tensions to rise over the coming months as the supposed "completion" of Beijing's "sand castle" building simply means China will now move into the next phase of development which is apparently the installation of military facilities.
* * *
Full statement from Chinese foreign ministry:
The construction activities on the Nansha islands and reefs fall within the scope of China's sovereignty, and are lawful, reasonable and justified. They are not targeted at any other country, do not affect the freedom of navigation and overflight enjoyed by all countries in accordance with international law in the South China Sea, nor have they caused or will they cause damage to the marine ecological system and environment in the South China Sea, and are thus beyond reproach.
It is learned from relevant Chinese competent departments that, as planned, the land reclamation project of China's construction on some stationed islands and reefs of the Nansha Islands will be completed in the upcoming days.
Apart from satisfying the need of necessary military defense, the main purpose of China's construction activities is to meet various civilian demands and better perform China's international obligations and responsibilities in the areas such as maritime search and rescue, disaster prevention and mitigation, marine scientific research, meteorological observation, ecological environment conservation, navigation safety as well as fishery production service. After the land reclamation, we will start the building of facilities to meet relevant functional requirements.
China is committed to the path of peaceful development. She follows a foreign policy of forging friendship and partnership with her neighbours, and a defense policy that is defensive in nature. China remains a staunch force for regional peace and stability. While firmly safeguarding her territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests, China will continue to dedicate herself to resolving relevant disputes with relevant states directly concerned, in accordance with international law, through negotiation and consultation on the basis of respecting historical facts, pushing forward actively the consultation on a "Code of Conduct in the South China Sea" together with ASEAN member states within the framework of fully and effectively implementing the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea. China will continue to uphold the freedom of navigation as well as peace and stability in the South China Sea.
»
- 21270 reads
- Printer-friendly version
- Send to friend
- advertisements -
What is the Chinese for Diego Garcia? On the plus side, at least the Chinese didn't deport native inhabitants to some foreign hell hole.
They should call the islands Chinatown nobody complains about those in their countries.
We should send our Elites over to those islands.
China is just building the Morgan SafeHaven Hotel Fortress chain "for the discriminating executive."
Was ist das kerfuffle?
Put Chris Cristie on one side, der damn thing will tip ofer.
They constantly talk about this 5 trillion in shipping that passes through the South China Sea, and yet conveniently omit that most of it is either going to, or coming from China.
Anyone who doesn't have their head up uncle satan's ass can surely marvel at their construction. It has taken guts and a number of first world skills to pull this off (something America once had)... and in such a short time. Just because the Chinese sell trinket junk to dumbass 'muricans doesn't mean they are incapable of building some amazing things. Oh, and they've basically spit in the eyes of the MIC.
"Chagossians-the original inhabitants of Diego Garcia face U.S. government in the court
Chagossians (often referred to as Ilois) were the indigenous people of Diego Garcia Island in the Indian Ocean. From 1965 to 1973 the U.S. government put them on the overcrowded boats and shipped them off to Mauritius. The island of Diego Garcia was completely emptied of all the local peoples. According to the U.S. senior Foreign Office member at the time: ”We must surely be very tough about this. The object of the exercise is to get some rocks which will remain ours…There will be no indigenous population except seagulls.”
Traditionally, Chagossians practiced subsistence agriculture. Currently, they are penniless, poor, and without a home. Numbering some 3000 to 4000 Chagossians, they currently live on the island of Mauritius. There are approximately 500 Chagossian survivors of the more than 1.500 original evictees right now. Many of them recount their experiences as they were forced out of their homes from 1965 to 1973 in order to accommodate the new U.S. military base. Essentially, the relocation was carried out in three stages. First, Chagossians that were away at the time were not allowed back on the island. In the second stage, British government cut off all the flow of goods and in the third stage all the remaining Chagossians were simply forced onto the ships and taken to either Seychelles or Mauritius.
http://www.culturalsurvival.org/news/chagossians-original-inhabitants-di...
You know that Murica alone started over 80% of all armed conflicts on the planet since WW2, killing ~30 million people in the process, yet you hear from those Western transmitters of lies, propaganda and indoctrination how Murica is a beacon of freedom, liberty and democracy (even though Murican population never voted on anything of significance; I don't think there was ever a referendum regarding anything in that "cradle of democracy")! And we must wonder when are those nasty Westenrners going to start to pay for their crimes, which, as we can all clearly see, are of enormous magnitude. Perhaps soon, and Mother Nature will be the executioner, hm?
LOLZ:
You know that Murica alone started over 80% of all armed conflicts on the planet since WW2, killing ~30 million people in the process
I doubt these numbers. Only 80%?
Can I get a FUCK YEAH?
Nor overthrow an elected government to install a bunch of Neo-NAZIs
Wow, on the whole it is pretty ballsey to just dredge up sand and build an island like that. Some estimates claim they went down to 300 feet below sea level for material.
Wouldn't it be cool to be stationed there as a combatant? Fuck, one big sand-bullseye.
shit, one big earthquake and tsunami would be all it takes. Good thing that part of the world doesn't have big earthquakes or anything like that.
Sheeeeit. Race a big enough boat past one of these islands and you could swamp it out with the wake.
/SARC
One cat 4+ typhoon from oblivion
Fire up the HARP machine and send a good sized typhoon their way and I image that little pile of sand will get scrubbed clean....
Yeah, those artificial islands are going to be turned into blobs of molten glass when the nukes begin flying.
I wonder what the USSA will look like when WWIII goes hot.
Judging from that recent petition to launch a preemptive nuclear strike on Russia, most dumbed-down Amerikans believe that they will remain unscathed.
Must be nice to live in a world with no consequences.
I wonder what the USSA will look like when WWIII goes hot.
Almost like Camden. NJ but not as bad.
America has economic zones also, look!
http://media.comicbook.com/uploads1/2014/11/avengers-weta-vfx-09-agents-...
Any condos for sale there?
The next time your country (whatever country you may live in) tries to promote a war, ask yourself, why don't they just kill the 'enemy' countries leadership either via assassination or bomb or any other means at their disposal? When such an act would completely derail any large scale war while also not giving the enemy state reason to hate you for murdering their family and turning their homeland into a toxic uninhabitable wasteland.
Easier said than done. Like whack a mole.
So it's only easy when it plays to the global ruling classes favor (JFK and getting Reagan in line)? I don't buy a claim that any 1st world nation lacks the resources or technology to kill any other 1st world leader at the time of their choosing. They are all in on the game together which is why they protect each other.
The whole game is a scam.
you might want to consult Fidel as to how to go about doing this
Future ghost island?
Sell to the US for extra special rendition. ... or FEMA camps. ... or Alex Jones Radio Station.
Tourist resort, most likely.
Looks a lot better construction than that crap the ragheads built in Dubai.
Many hand make island work.
According to the Greenies these types of islands will soon be underwater. The Chinese are so stupid. Don't they believe in climate change. Maybe Al needs a consulting agreement with the powers that be over there.
I generally approve of sandcastles, but it's a shame about the reefs. The fish and other critters know nothing about geopolitics, yet they were destroyed to make room for the ambitions of some nation. I'm not a radical environmentalist by any means, nor would I give my life to save the reefs, but anytime a part of the universe is destroyed I find it sad.
Neat. When can I buy a beach-front condo?
. . . and the condo will be well protected.
This is taking Chinese take-out too far.
What a threat to the US! China is in the East Chinese Sea, just doing what other nations are doing the the region (although with the blessing of the US so it's ok).
Can't the US find any better reason to start WW3?
If the Filipinos, err, Amuricans, have monies to build stuff , then build suckers and if it's in a disputed zone, your case will be heard in the Hague or at the UN if another country doth protest. Secondly, it would be foolhardy of the Chinese ( and their Russian Partners ) not to consolidate/protect territories and assets when the belligerent Amurikans possess WMD. D'UH Vichy DC gets a taste of it's own medicine and bleats like they're the World's Policeman and it's a ONE Membership Club. Smacks of Imperialism. Should learn from NOT SO Great Britain whose EMPIRE lies on a Hard Disk full of Onezies & Noughts in THREADNEADLE STREET.
Will they still guarantee 1 hour delivery?
Once they have the big radar going, they even guarantee back-delivery.
"If somebody said stop to Hitler at that point in time, or to Germany at that time, would we have avoided World War II.”
That BS is in every other crappy Hollywood movie, it seems. Sudetenland was German territory ripped from it by the Versailles diktat and came back to Germany after a fair vote - something foreign to Britian or America and not really understood since American and British elections are usually controlled and rigged or set aside by a judge if the desired result isn't achieved.
This is China navy please go away quickly is for US navy, not for Philippine's.
Interesting when you look at Chinese history. They do not have a record of imperialistic adventures and invading neighbors. Because nobody pays attention to history, I'm hoping the real record will reflect their true intentions.
'We must Do Something --- Harrumph...!!!'
Go vs. Chess. Interesting.
I didn't hear the revisionist history re the Germans and Czechoslovakia?
Oh and BTW, every tom, dick and harry know history is written by the victors. It is what keeps our publishing and fiction writing industries busy....
I guess now the US taxpayer gets saddled with building a gigantic tsunami generator. Add it to the student loan column.
Weren't they trying to sell the whole conflict as being about oil? What happened to that, not a one oil drill bit sunk. Aquino and his merry band of Chinese descended Oligarchs, want the Chinese out, start with him.
yes, they were trying to pretend that china didnt care until there was oil maybe possibly found. except that that's bullshit propaganda. no matter how many times it's repeated, it doesn't make it true.
We’ll soon find out if HAARP is real.
Jesus is still attacking the Pacific Ocean, algae bloom (Red Death) inbound!
China should build islands near American Coasts.
And Install cruise missiles there.
Let 'em build whatever they want, hurricanes will scrape that reef clean in 20 years or less, theres a reason the Senjakus are un inhabited, its a toll to live there, as far as minerals go, its a free for all, Transocean wins.
more islands in s.china sea and they havent suffered any natural damages yet so keep on dreaming mate .
SO that is meant to be Ok now. Because they are not building more we just let them take this part of the ocean, the resources and put weapons on which to attack sovereign states?