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China Completes Airstrip On Reef, Builds Military Facility On Second Island

Tyler Durden's picture




 

China has reportedly completed an airstrip on Fiery Cross Reef, one of the islands Beijing has constructed in the South China Sea.

Back in April, satellite images which appeared to show that construction had commenced on the runway set off alarm bells in the US and among Washington’s regional allies in the South Pacific. 

Since then, China’s land reclamation efforts in the disputed waters around the Spratlys have sparked an international furor and touched off a war of words between Washington and Beijing, with the Pentagon assuring China that the US Navy will continue to operate as before in the region and the PLA claiming it will enforce a no-fly zone over the islands “if threatened.” 

Although China recently claimed to have largely finished the dredging effort, construction atop the islands is moving forward and as Reuters reports, the airstrip on Fiery Cross, first spotted some three months ago, looks to be complete. Here’s more:

China has almost finished building a 3,000-meter-long (10,000-foot) airstrip on one of its artificial islands in the disputed Spratly archipelago of the South China Sea, new satellite photographs of the area show.

 

A U.S. military commander had told Reuters in May that the airstrip on Fiery Cross Reef could be operational by year-end, although the June 28 images suggest that could now be sooner.

 

The airstrip will be long enough to accommodate most Chinese military aircraft, security experts have said, giving Beijing greater reach into the heart of maritime Southeast Asia.

 

The latest photographs were taken by satellite imagery firm DigitalGlobe and published by the Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative (AMTI) at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington. (amti.csis.org/)

 

AMTI said the airstrip was being paved and marked, while an apron and taxiway had been added adjacent to the runway.

 

Two helipads, up to 10 satellite communications antennas and one possible radar tower were visible on Fiery Cross Reef, it said. The images also showed a Chinese naval vessel moored in a port.

Here's the latest image and commentary on Fiery Cross from AMTI...

As of June 28, 2015, China is expanding the construction of its island facilities on Fiery Cross Reef. The construction of a 3,000 meter airstrip is nearly complete. China continues to pave and mark the airstrip and an apron and taxiway have been added adjacent to the runway. Prior photos showed that a small lake existed in the middle of the island; this has since been filled in. Personnel are now visible walking around the island.A sensor array has also been constructed and additional support facilities are being built. Meanwhile, a naval vessel is moored in the port. The size of the island is estimated at 2,740,000 square meters. The island has a partially-developed port with nine temporary loading piers. The harbor area is approximately 630,000 square meters. Two helipads, up to 10 satellite communications antennas, and one possible radar tower are also visible. Also visible are two lighthouses and one cement plant.

 


 

...and here's more on Johnson South Reef

South Johnson Reef was one of the first facilities to finish principal land reclamation. Since the seawalls have gone up, China has added a small port with limited berth space and two loading stations. The harbor area is approximately 3,000 square meters with an entrance 125 meters wide. There are two helipads on the reef and up to three satellite communications antennas. A large multi-level military facility is in the center of the reef with two possible radar towers under construction. Up to six security and surveillance towers are being built with four possible weapons towers also under construction. Agricultural facilities, a lighthouse, and a possible solar farm with 44 panels, in addition to two wind turbines, have been sighted.

 


As for the Chinese foreign ministry's contention that Beijing's construction efforts are nearly complete, that remains to be seen and indeed, Reuters notes that construction is continuing on two nearby islets. Their names: "Subi" and "Mischief".

(Photo taken from Philippine military plane appears to show mischief at Mischief)

 

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Thu, 07/02/2015 - 21:52 | 6264649 kowalli
kowalli's picture

can we have a photo of Russian troops in Ukraine? no? ok

Thu, 07/02/2015 - 21:58 | 6264669 TeamDepends
TeamDepends's picture

How about Alaska, Tennessee, or Idaho?

Thu, 07/02/2015 - 22:07 | 6264694 greenskeeper carl
greenskeeper carl's picture

In a same world, this wouldn't really matter, since it really isn't any of our business. Unfortunately, we do not live in that world.

Thu, 07/02/2015 - 22:08 | 6264696 Publicus
Publicus's picture

Next step: build a resort on the island to shut the Western Elites up.

Thu, 07/02/2015 - 22:25 | 6264759 New England Patriot
New England Patriot's picture

That's one alternative to building an actual aircraft carrier. 

Thu, 07/02/2015 - 22:49 | 6264808 Lore
Lore's picture

It is a superior alternative. Who needs aircraft carriers when you can build islands?  What's remarkable is that nobody did this decades ago. Now, the Chinese air force is in a position to respond promptly to threats from anywhere in the region.  Really, if everybody on all sides can put on their thinking caps, this could be a decisive measure in favour of long term regional security, as it eliminates a lot of uncertainty.  And you know what?  I wonder if the Americans played a direct role in helping out with this project.  Because all those thousands of barges of debris left over from 911 were expedited to South China, right?  So we should not be surprised to learn that WTC 1, WTC2 and WTC7 provided the requisite fill to serve as a base for all the construction. Furthermore, we should not be surprised if the expense was all covered by the insurance policy taken out by Larry Silverstein in the weeks immediately prior.  Fist bumps all around!

Thu, 07/02/2015 - 23:02 | 6264849 J S Bach
J S Bach's picture

More power to the Chinese.

Do a little thought experiment...

If we built artificial islands anywhere along our coasts and some foreign entity from the other side of the world came along flexing their flabby muscles telling us to "quit it"... what would our reaction be?  You have to have this empathetic mindset with every bit of foreign-policy chicanery the U.S. tries to pull off.

Thu, 07/02/2015 - 23:54 | 6265017 El Oregonian
El Oregonian's picture

Reefer madness

Fri, 07/03/2015 - 01:22 | 6265171 sushi
sushi's picture

What is Guam?

Fri, 07/03/2015 - 01:30 | 6265182 Joe Trader
Joe Trader's picture

"Global warming" will sort these islands out - wait...

Fri, 07/03/2015 - 03:31 | 6265324 StackShinyStuff
StackShinyStuff's picture

What about Shenanigans Island?  Any work being done there?

Fri, 07/03/2015 - 05:06 | 6265443 Laowei Gweilo
Laowei Gweilo's picture

translation isn't really all that accurate... for one it's funny to try use the pinyin name for one but not the other

 

also, su bi and mei ji in this context as names are closer to be translated as Blue Land Edge and Good Help Protect... both sort of describing the physical characteristics of a reef and any land reclaimation that would be done there

 

i dunno i mean I guess technically they could be called "Subi" and "Mischief" as english words haha

 

but if they mean su bi jiao and mei ji jiao, sure you could say and translate that as Subi and Mischief, but I'm pretty sure that the context of su bi and mei ji here are referring to the physical qualities of the location and any physical (not strategic) symbolism it has :P

Fri, 07/03/2015 - 09:17 | 6265791 PrayingMantis
PrayingMantis's picture

 

 

... the US builds military bases all over the world >>> https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_United_States_military_bases ... with extreme protests in some places like Okinawa >>> http://worldnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/04/13/17598118-in-okinawa-the-war-isnt-over-protests-aimed-at-us-base-expansion?lite ... and a huge US naval base built on an atoll where it was rumoured the missing MH370 landed >>> http://www.theepochtimes.com/n3/567207-diego-garcia-island-atoll-us-base-rumored-to-be-landing-spot-for-malaysia-flight-mh-370/ and >>> https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diego_Garcia and no one in the western presstitute media bats an eye ... now, China builds military installations (very similar to Diego Garcia) in international waters being claimed by several countries, now everyone in the lamestream media and their uncles going ape shit ...

Fri, 07/03/2015 - 03:32 | 6265326 StackShinyStuff
StackShinyStuff's picture

dup

Fri, 07/03/2015 - 11:29 | 6266172 Macon Richardson
Macon Richardson's picture

Guam is bat feces.

Fri, 07/03/2015 - 00:24 | 6265071 tarabel
tarabel's picture

 

 

If these islands were in undisputed Chinese territorial waters, you might have a point.

But they aren't.

These waters have many claimants and the Chinese are building the islands to freeze out the others through the process of extending a false assertion of territoriality due to the 200-mile limit extending from the new islands themselves.

But such tactics are specifically forbidden under international law and China has spurned every request to take this dispute to arbitration.

If the Philippines or Vietnam were to builld similar islands next door, what would China's reaction to such invasiveness be?

The same reaction that the Philippines and Vietnam are currently expressing.

But China is driving everyone, especially these two nations, into the arms of its greatest geopolitical foe and essentially forging an iron band of unfriendly nations around it solely as a result of its own actions.

Add two more former "Yankee, go home" nations to the ranks of "Yankee, come back" countries. But they will make nice places for the USN supply ships to operate from in the event of a real war. Cut some time off the hop to Subic or Cam Ranh Bay, which will once again become US FOBs, as they once were.

Brilliant Chinese plan. Simply Brilliant.

 

Fri, 07/03/2015 - 00:40 | 6265105 Max Steel
Max Steel's picture

How about looking at the map of s.china sea first before showing  your ignorance . Both viets and malaysians have much more islands/reefwithin their custody in that sea .Even filipinos have it .btw when usa isgoing to leavediegogarcia? Those natives are still stuck as refugees in camps in Thailand. Hpocrisy much?

Fri, 07/03/2015 - 03:24 | 6265317 invisible touch
invisible touch's picture

as long as it is not in your region of the world, i just have 1 thing to say " sorry usa but fuck you "

Fri, 07/03/2015 - 06:59 | 6265547 BigJim
BigJim's picture

Much as I disagree with most of what Tarabel posts, she's on the money here. The rights and wrongs of the island building are irrelevant; what the Chinese are doing will drive more of the region's nations into the US' orbit. And that cannot be to the advantage of the Chinese.

Fri, 07/03/2015 - 07:28 | 6265590 Mentaliusanything
Mentaliusanything's picture
China Completes Airstrip On Reef, Builds Military Facility On Second Island.

USA gets Jock itch and scratches some sand from ass crack

Fri, 07/03/2015 - 04:44 | 6265418 HolyfieldsOtherEar
HolyfieldsOtherEar's picture

Except these artificial islands are in waters that don't belong to China. They stole them from Vietnam and the Philippines. They're going to use them to impose a stranglehold on traffic through the Sea of Vietnam. Instead of drone-striking wedding parties in Yemen, Obomber should be turfing the chicoms out of their stolen water forts.

Fri, 07/03/2015 - 05:34 | 6265456 random999
random999's picture

good thing is, the US never did build themself a military island in disputed waters in the caribbean sea. Sure they probably rent some space, with or without a gun to some peoples head.

But they did not build an military island while claiming waters that obviously does not belong to them.

Everyone who pays attention and knows chinese peoples greed and patriotism knows that this is just the beginning and it wont end pretty if/when it continues. They backed down from pumping oil from the vietnamese coast. Will they try again when the island is done and will they back away then when put preassure on? What about all the other places in this area claimed by so many countries? Will philippine and malaysian fishermen even be able to continue fishing in the waters they've been fishing for as long as there's been boats? How much bolder will chinese fishermen become?

Btw, I'm sure the chinese think that the south china sea belongs to them just because of its name! Thats would be so typical.

This message is from europe.

Thu, 07/02/2015 - 23:22 | 6264923 ebworthen
ebworthen's picture

A carrier battle group can be vaporized with a nuke.

The Chinese aren't fucking around, and neither are the Russians.

I don't believe the U.S. Navy nor the U.S. leadership is prepared for the "final countdown".

Fri, 07/03/2015 - 00:12 | 6265055 tarabel
tarabel's picture

 

 

Those islands can't?

If things go Spasm, those islands can probably be swept clean (all of them) with a single shot in the ocean to scourge them with a tidal wave.

 

Fri, 07/03/2015 - 01:04 | 6265144 Abbie Normal
Abbie Normal's picture

And so can Guam, Midway and Pearl.

Sat, 07/04/2015 - 11:58 | 6268964 Publicus
Publicus's picture

And Hawaii.

Thu, 07/02/2015 - 23:45 | 6265003 junction
junction's picture

A typhoon sweeping through the South China Sea can turn the work of Chinese maritime engineers into kindling, wrecking in minutes the work of months. 

Fri, 07/03/2015 - 02:29 | 6265263 DeepFriedLizards
DeepFriedLizards's picture

HAARP ?

Fri, 07/03/2015 - 03:26 | 6265320 invisible touch
invisible touch's picture

you idiot enough to haven't tought that the ingeeners would have took in consideration any sort of water event on artificial island build, especially military one... wow... now i  get why you elected obozo twice.

Fri, 07/03/2015 - 04:47 | 6265424 HolyfieldsOtherEar
HolyfieldsOtherEar's picture

We live in hope.

 

Junction and Tarabel, you've just made my day.

Fri, 07/03/2015 - 00:10 | 6265049 tarabel
tarabel's picture

 

 

Superior alternative?

The Japanese Empire knows how well that concept works in the face of a fleet of aircraft carriers.

Thu, 07/02/2015 - 22:51 | 6264827 booboo
booboo's picture

an aircraft carrier can move away from a Typhoon, these islands will be swept flat, the good news there are plenty of able bodied men to re build the facilities in a day and a half

Thu, 07/02/2015 - 23:06 | 6264878 New England Patriot
New England Patriot's picture

My personal motto has always been, No island where nature didn't put one.

 

Fri, 07/03/2015 - 01:06 | 6265149 Abbie Normal
Abbie Normal's picture

So that means there would be no airports at SFO, Osaka, Hong Kong, etc.

Thu, 07/02/2015 - 22:07 | 6264695 Publicus
Publicus's picture

.

Thu, 07/02/2015 - 22:14 | 6264718 TeamDepends
TeamDepends's picture

Barry is a LOT more flexible now.

Thu, 07/02/2015 - 23:02 | 6264870 wisebastard
wisebastard's picture

My votes for DC

 

Thu, 07/02/2015 - 22:16 | 6264725 Karaio
Karaio's picture

No one speaks of the Ascension Island in the Atlantic Ocean.

No one speaks of the Falklands (Malvinas).

No one speaks of ...... a lot of strategic islands around the globe.

When you enter one supusitório in the ass, they feel.

Kkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkk!

Fri, 07/03/2015 - 11:39 | 6266202 qomolangma
qomolangma's picture

No one speaks of the Chagossians, the original inhabitants of Diego Garcia...

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.”

 

http://bit.do/chagossians-diego-garcia

Fri, 07/03/2015 - 07:11 | 6265559 junction
junction's picture

Luckily, the United States can rely on its superior aerospace technology, as exemplified by the new F-35 jet.  Or maybe not.

Test Pilot Admits the F-35 Can't Dogfight

by DAVID AXE

https://medium.com/war-is-boring/test-pilot-admits-the-f-35-can-t-dogfight-cdb9d11a875

A test pilot has some very, very bad news about the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter. The pricey new stealth jet can't turn or climb fast enough to hit an enemy plane during a dogfight or to dodge the enemy's own gunfire, the pilot reported following a day of mock air battles back in January.

"The F-35 was at a distinct energy disadvantage," the unnamed pilot wrote in a scathing five-page brief that War Is Boring has obtained. The brief is unclassified but is labeled "for official use only."

The test pilot's report is the latest evidence of fundamental problems with the design of the F-35?-which, at a total program cost of more than a trillion dollars, is history's most expensive weapon.

The U.S. Air Force, Navy and Marine Corps, not to mention the air forces and navies of more than a dozen U.S. allies, are counting on the Lockheed Martin-made JSF to replace many if not most of their current fighter jets.

And that means that, within a few decades, American and allied aviators will fly into battle in an inferior fighter, one that could get them killed and cost the United States control of the air.

The fateful test took place on Jan. 14, 2015, apparently within the Sea Test Range over the Pacific Ocean near Edwards Air Force Base in California. The single-seat F-35A with the designation "AF-02" - one of the older JSFs in the Air Force took off alongside a two-seat F-16D Block 40, one of the types of planes the F-35 is supposed to replace.

The two jets would be playing the roles of opposing fighters in a pretend air battle, which the Air Force organized specifically to test out the F-35's prowess as a close-range dogfighter in an air-to-air tangle involving high "angles of attack," or AoA, and "aggressive stick/pedal inputs."

In other words, the F-35 pilot would fly his jet hard, turning and maneuvering in order to "shoot down" the F-16, whose pilot would be doing his own best to evade and kill the F-35.

"The evaluation focused on the overall effectiveness of the aircraft in performing various specified maneuvers in a dynamic environment," the F-35 tester wrote. "This consisted of traditional Basic Fighter Maneuvers in offensive, defensive and neutral setups at altitudes ranging from 10,000 to 30,000 feet."

The F-35 was flying "clean," with no weapons in its bomb bay or under its wings and fuselage. The F-16, by contrast, was hauling two bulky underwing drop tanks, putting the older jet at an aerodynamic disadvantage.

But the JSF's advantage didn't actually help in the end. The stealth fighter proved too sluggish to reliably defeat the F-16, even with the F-16 lugging extra fuel tanks. "Even with the limited F-16 target configuration, the F-35A remained at a distinct energy disadvantage for every engagement," the pilot reported.

The defeated flier's five-page report is a damning litany of aerodynamic complaints targeting the cumbersome JSF.

"Insufficient pitch rate." "Energy deficit to the bandit would increase over time." "The flying qualities in the blended region (20-26 degrees AoA) were not intuitive or favorable."

The F-35 jockey tried to target the F-16 with the stealth jet's 25-millimeter cannon, but the smaller F-16 easily dodged. "Instead of catching the bandit off-guard by rapidly pull aft to achieve lead, the nose rate was slow, allowing him to easily time his jink prior to a gun solution," the JSF pilot complained.

And when the pilot of the F-16 turned the tables on the F-35, maneuvering to put the stealth plane in his own gunsight, the JSF jockey found he couldn't maneuver out of the way, owing to a "lack of nose rate."

The F-35 pilot came right out and said it - if you're flying a JSF, there's no point in trying to get into a sustained, close turning battle with another fighter. "There were not compelling reasons to fight in this region." God help you if the enemy surprises you and you have no choice but to turn.

The JSF tester found just one way to win a short-range air-to-air engagement-by performing a very specific maneuver. "Once established at high AoA, a prolonged full rudder input generated a fast enough yaw rate to create excessive heading crossing angles with opportunities to point for missile shots."

But there's a problem?-?this sliding maneuver bleeds energy fast. "The technique required a commitment to lose energy and was a temporary opportunity prior to needing to regain energy . and ultimately end up defensive again." In other words, having tried the trick once, an F-35 pilot is out of options and needs to get away quick.

And to add insult to injury, the JSF flier discovered he couldn't even comfortably move his head inside the radar-evading jet's cramped cockpit. "The helmet was too large for the space inside the canopy to adequately see behind the aircraft." That allowed the F-16 to sneak up on him.

In the end, the F-35, the only new fighter jet that America and most of its allies are developing, is demonstrably inferior in a dogfight with the F-16, which the U.S. Air Force first acquired in the late 1970s.

The test pilot explained that he has also flown 1980s-vintage F-15E fighter-bombers and found the F-35 to be "substantially inferior" to the older plane when it comes to managing energy in a close battle.

See also: http://sploid.gizmodo.com/the-designer-of-the-f-16-explains-why-the-f-35-is-such-1591828468

Fri, 07/03/2015 - 08:24 | 6265670 BrokusDickusMaximus
BrokusDickusMaximus's picture

Don't believe any disinformation that you read. Kind of like we didn't have drones firing hell fires in Iraq back in '03. Our shit works just fine. Those pointy headed engineers with the plastic pocket protectors and slide rules have a shit load of nasty things designed and produce to decimate, kill and maim all living things. If that report were true that test pilot would have been Michael Hasting'd in a New York minute. We have amassed enough of very bad things in our arsenals around the globe that it would astound your international leaders. I do not love my government. I worked for them for 20 years. They lie. About everything. Big and small. Yes the MIC is making a metric ass load of money and will continue to do so. If it goes boom you can be assured it will go boom. Hubble telescope. One small box of circuit cards and presto it works just fine. The box hasn't been paid for yet for the F-35. The Chinese plans stolen for the plane will produce an aircraft that is substandard. The boxes have filled the empty vaults at Ft. Knox.

Fri, 07/03/2015 - 16:31 | 6266862 Lore
Lore's picture

Your Hastings comment seems contradictory. If the thing is really so good, its performance should speak for itself.  There should be no need to suppress criticism, certainly no justification to commit murder, as you seem to imply.  Criticism should be welcomed as part of an organic results-oriented testing process. 

No, I think the F-35 has served its real purpose, to make a lot of money for defense contractors. MISSION ACCOMPLISHED.  "Fifth Generation" is a SCAM like "Global Warming" is a SCAM, spawning an unnatural industrial complex that works continually to invent new ways of misallocating national treasure to perpetuate itself.  The difference this time is that the Top has almost sucked the Bottom dry.  In a real conventional war, I wonder how the MIC would perform.  Let's hope cooler heads prevail, and the psychopaths don't get their wish.

Thu, 07/02/2015 - 21:53 | 6264652 mickeyman
mickeyman's picture

I preferred the pictures of the cute girls in camo

Thu, 07/02/2015 - 22:01 | 6264674 angel_of_joy
angel_of_joy's picture

Me too, but they have to build the islands for them first...

Fri, 07/03/2015 - 03:50 | 6265354 Zwelgje
Zwelgje's picture

You build it and the chicks will come. True everywhere.

Thu, 07/02/2015 - 22:01 | 6264676 813kml
813kml's picture

It's not a real island til there are fat German tourists in Speedos polluting the beach with their back hair.

Thu, 07/02/2015 - 22:09 | 6264699 greenskeeper carl
greenskeeper carl's picture

Don't forget the men wearing speedos. That part is important too.

Thu, 07/02/2015 - 22:23 | 6264749 Closet Boy
Closet Boy's picture

The key to wearing the Speedo brief is position....that is, one must make calculated adjustments to "special unit" to be comfortable.

Fri, 07/03/2015 - 02:49 | 6265292 OldPhart
OldPhart's picture

Last time I tried a speedo it got all rolled up in hair and dingleberries.  Extremely painful to pull off...and it was the LAST TIME.

Thu, 07/02/2015 - 22:54 | 6264841 booboo
booboo's picture

Mutti goes commando, I seen the hedge row and sherman tank would have got hung up in it.

Thu, 07/02/2015 - 22:04 | 6264685 NoDecaf
NoDecaf's picture

Yeah they should fill the airstrip with hot girls and pom-poms spelling a message that can be read from the air "fuck off"

Thu, 07/02/2015 - 21:56 | 6264663 Yen Cross
Yen Cross's picture

BFD

Thu, 07/02/2015 - 21:57 | 6264664 zhanglini
zhanglini's picture

awesome!

 

Thu, 07/02/2015 - 21:58 | 6264667 Latitude25
Latitude25's picture

I'm waiting to see what's left of these after a category 5+ typhoon passes over.

Thu, 07/02/2015 - 22:03 | 6264680 angel_of_joy
angel_of_joy's picture

What ? Do you really think that the Chinese are able to build them from scratch but unable to repair them ? Geez... American logic at work !

Thu, 07/02/2015 - 22:13 | 6264717 NoPension
NoPension's picture

I wonder if they imported Mexicans to assist in the construction.

I will say this, those Chinese don't fuck around building shit. Here, we would still be in year one of a five year environmental study.
I don't think the US could either put a man on the moon, or dig the Panama Canal today, if the country's existance depended on it.

Thu, 07/02/2015 - 22:56 | 6264838 Lore
Lore's picture

True, dat. They can put up an 85 storey building in 15 days. Furthermore, they cut through the "global warming" swindle - another point in their favour. (Greenshirts will downvote me, but it's their hang-up, not mine.)

Fri, 07/03/2015 - 01:21 | 6265170 benb
benb's picture

“I don't think the US could either put a man on the moon, or dig the Panama Canal today, if the country's existence depended on it.”

Don’t kid yourself. The Corporate Government Fascist Entity controls the   U.S. and has a governor placed on it in the private sector. (See the Lawrence Dunegan tapes) American enterprise has been subverted. They control patents and they limit our access to technology.  The actual capability of the NWO controlled U.S. is literally unbelievable to most people due to compartmentalization and being classified. The Globalist controlled shadow government has had anti grav craft for almost forty years. There were long ago manned craft traveling deep within our star system. The Shuttle for the most part was a dog and pony show. The Challenger Disaster was sabotage by elements within NASA. Killing the school teacher was meant to traumatize and demonstrate to the public that space was too dangerous. These people have the capability to neutralize any plane, missile, or threat, near instantaneously with electronic pulse or beam weapons deployed in the air and in space. So the Chinese island is just more BS unless anyone believes we are still fighting on the level of WWII; Which of course was staged.

Like Carlin said – It’s a big club and you’re not in it.

Fri, 07/03/2015 - 03:10 | 6265309 WOAR
WOAR's picture

This requires too much suspension of disbelief. Sure, the Challenger Disaster could've been setup (to keep the common person, ie a schoolteacher) out of space, but anti-grav?

Show me the power source, and maybe, MAYBE I'll believe you.

So far, mankind has proven itself inept when it comes to power generation. Chernobyl, Fukushima, reliance on fossil fuels that we all know will eventually 'run out' (or become too expensive to use)...

The government is not all powerful. It is merely power mad - there is a difference.

Fri, 07/03/2015 - 15:40 | 6266792 benb
benb's picture

“This requires too much suspension of disbelief. Sure, the Challenger Disaster could've been setup (to keep the common person, ie a schoolteacher) out of space…”

That is not why it was sabotaged. It was publicly blown up with the school teacher on board to kill the common man’s dream of manned space exploration while the elite continued to push forward with much more advanced technology in secrecy. The Ruling Oligarchy couldn’t allow us the knowledge that there are advanced civilizations that have been operating and are operating this very moment in our star system. They have been here from the beginning.  Our first neighbors begin with the moon.

The general public is scheduled for extermination.

If you want to see proof of anti-grav propulsion just go review film of the ascent stage of the L.E.M. in the J series Apollo missions as they take off. They are supposed to be burning hypergolic rocket fuel. Study the film as I and others have. There is nothing coming out of the rocket nozzle. Just the explosive bolts, separation, and then the module accelerates up.

It doesn’t matter to me whether you believe me or not.

I know what I’m talking about.

Fri, 07/03/2015 - 03:31 | 6265325 invisible touch
invisible touch's picture

actually usa never been able by themselves to go to the moon simply because the space program race with russia has been hijacked by smart nazi import to make the saturn program just once they stole the V2 and realize they were idiots alone...

Thu, 07/02/2015 - 22:15 | 6264723 Latitude25
Latitude25's picture

American logic indeed.  Where did I say that the Chinese would not repair them? 

Thu, 07/02/2015 - 22:34 | 6264779 jaxville
jaxville's picture

  I was thinking the same thing.  Must be some special sea wall they are building

Fri, 07/03/2015 - 02:57 | 6265300 leftcoastfool
leftcoastfool's picture

"I'm waiting to see what's left of these after a category 5+ typhoon passes over."

Lat25:  You might be surprised.  In September, 2006, Wake Island (a US base on a coral reef about twice the size of the artificial Chinese island) took a direct hit from supertyphoon Ioke which was category 5 and had SUSTAINED winds of 220mph with gusts to 250!... See: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/1693216/posts.  It is believed that the entire island was completely under water as the storm passed over.  There was tremendous damage to the trees and buildings, but the airfield was structurally sound and still useable once the debris was cleared...

Thu, 07/02/2015 - 21:58 | 6264668 Crawdaddy
Crawdaddy's picture

NWO table setting BS.

Thu, 07/02/2015 - 22:03 | 6264679 suteibu
suteibu's picture

"...the Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative (AMTI) at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington. (amti.csis.org/)"

Sweet mother of Satan, that's a top secret NWO organization if I ever heard of one.  The inclusion of "Transparency" in the title seals the deal.

Thu, 07/02/2015 - 22:06 | 6264692 angel_of_joy
angel_of_joy's picture

That's actually a cool link ! I had no idea that the Chinese are building 9 islands in that area...

http://amti.csis.org/island-tracker/

Thu, 07/02/2015 - 22:11 | 6264708 suteibu
suteibu's picture

I would, too, if I had half the world breathing down my neck.  I don't know why this is such a surprise to anyone.

Of course, the fear-mongering aspect is low hanging fruit for the Neocons, statists, and globalists.

BTW, is this a SINO-only island tracker?  Is anyone else building islands according to CSIS?

Thu, 07/02/2015 - 22:19 | 6264724 Urban Roman
Urban Roman's picture

If you like your island, you can keep your island.

 

...

...

...

no, wait, I meant that other thing ...

Thu, 07/02/2015 - 23:33 | 6264961 Buster Cherry
Buster Cherry's picture

You really admire the current occupier, don't you?

Thu, 07/02/2015 - 23:02 | 6264868 Freddie
Freddie's picture

http://amti.csis.org/about/

Filled to the gills with lots of dual shit-i-zen types.

Fri, 07/03/2015 - 11:15 | 6266134 qomolangma
qomolangma's picture

It shows Chinese indeed are the excellent builders of giant infrastructure!

Not just these island enlargements, they also quite excel in building bridges, the largest ones, the longest one in the world and many others incl. those skyscrapers, railways, seaports and airports.

Take a look at their amazing bridging works here: http://bit.do/chinese-bridges

Thu, 07/02/2015 - 22:04 | 6264682 db51
db51's picture

WTF.....how do you "build" a fucking island?

 

Thu, 07/02/2015 - 22:07 | 6264691 Fukushima Fricassee
Fukushima Fricassee's picture

Same way Obama takes Reggie up his black ass , without the Island.

Thu, 07/02/2015 - 22:09 | 6264703 angel_of_joy
angel_of_joy's picture

Thinking "outside the box" helps... Americans should know that, as every HR person in this country is sick & tired of reading/hearing the same shit in every resume and interview...

Thu, 07/02/2015 - 22:58 | 6264845 Trucker Glock
Trucker Glock's picture

HR people read resumes?  I thought they just looked at gender, race, and sexual orientation to make sure the candidate contributes to the diversity of the workforce.  The diversity thing is very in-your-face where I work.

Thu, 07/02/2015 - 22:09 | 6264704 nmewn
nmewn's picture

Oh those wackey peace loving Chinese again, building islands, dredging up sand, silting the seas...and building air strips atop them.

Damn, if they could just convince me their intentions are completely benign & peaceful in the midst of their ecological destruction and all their efforts won't be swallowed up by the man-made global warming tide forecasted to come, last year.

Or, so the "best & brightest" say ;-)

Thu, 07/02/2015 - 22:17 | 6264730 Urban Roman
Urban Roman's picture

If you like your island, you can keep your island.

Thu, 07/02/2015 - 22:18 | 6264733 Urban Roman
Urban Roman's picture

We silted some folks.

Thu, 07/02/2015 - 22:21 | 6264746 Urban Roman
Urban Roman's picture

They didn't build that.

Thu, 07/02/2015 - 22:22 | 6264748 Urban Roman
Urban Roman's picture

Hoping to win the junk championship.

But I think MDB and Fonestar are still way ahead.

Fri, 07/03/2015 - 11:36 | 6266194 HowdyDoody
HowdyDoody's picture

You forgot

What difference does it make?

 

Fri, 07/03/2015 - 01:13 | 6265159 Rock On Roger
Rock On Roger's picture

On the radio tonight I heard a Louisiana shrimper talk about the Gulf.

 

Some can't see for lookin.

Thu, 07/02/2015 - 22:17 | 6264727 Buster Cherry
Buster Cherry's picture

Pretty.smart!

Doesn' t have to be hauled out in drydock for maintenance and hull scraping and probably cost a hell of a lot less to operate, less manpower, etc, and no seasickness, and its unsinkable to boot!

Thu, 07/02/2015 - 22:20 | 6264742 Ajax_USB_Port_R...
Ajax_USB_Port_Repair_Service_'s picture

One good typhoon and the reclaimed land will be unreclaimeded.

Thu, 07/02/2015 - 22:22 | 6264747 Ginsengbull
Ginsengbull's picture

Didn't that used to be wetlands?

Thu, 07/02/2015 - 22:23 | 6264751 Latitude25
Latitude25's picture

Well if the Phillipines had their way the reefs would be destroyed with dynamite fishing.

http://www.sfgate.com/green/article/The-depths-of-destruction-Dynamite-f...

Thu, 07/02/2015 - 22:24 | 6264753 q99x2
q99x2's picture

Sitting duck. They increase sub more than island. Island for show.

Thu, 07/02/2015 - 22:33 | 6264774 Zen Master
Zen Master's picture

One typhoon and....It's gone!

Thu, 07/02/2015 - 23:13 | 6264897 Trucker Glock
Trucker Glock's picture

Homestead Air Force Base after Andrew in 1992.

Thu, 07/02/2015 - 23:14 | 6264901 Zen Master
Thu, 07/02/2015 - 22:39 | 6264791 Nom de Guerre
Nom de Guerre's picture

We built an airstrip on a reef.
It sank into the ocean.
We built another airstrip on the reef.
That sank into the ocean.
We built a third airstrip on the reef.
That burned down, fell over and then sank into the ocean.

Thu, 07/02/2015 - 22:58 | 6264843 Freddie
Freddie's picture

(All hail) Atlantis.

Donovan

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=35pNrRsgL5w

As Billy Batts gets his ass kicked.

Donovan version (somewhat airy fairy Irish shite)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=leI7sfmipuI

Thu, 07/02/2015 - 22:51 | 6264830 Freddie
Freddie's picture

Russia and China engaging in a lot more naval exercises especially in the Mediterranean.

Oops.   Some nice naval ports in Greece could help out. 

http://thesaker.is/russia-and-china-cock-a-snook-at-nato/

China had a ship near Syria when the Russian parked 7 to 8 ships off of Syria in Sept 2013 of fthe coast of Syria.   This is when the Russian essentially dared the US Navy to shoot Tomahawks over Russian ships.

 

Thu, 07/02/2015 - 23:09 | 6264887 silverer
silverer's picture

At the German festivals, we always look for the Messerschmidt rides.  I wonder what the Chinese offer in these parks?

Thu, 07/02/2015 - 23:35 | 6264969 Urban Roman
Urban Roman's picture

You can stand on the island and look slackjawed at the sky for ten minutes.

Then you have to go back to wherever you came from.

Fri, 07/03/2015 - 03:57 | 6265367 Zwelgje
Zwelgje's picture

Messerschmitt

Thu, 07/02/2015 - 23:12 | 6264892 tets up
tets up's picture

additional supply depots required

Fri, 07/03/2015 - 03:53 | 6265359 WOAR
WOAR's picture

YOU MUST CONSTRUCT ADDITIONAL PYLONS.

Thu, 07/02/2015 - 23:14 | 6264903 mijev
mijev's picture

Did the incorporation of Hawaii into the US serve any other purpose than to act as a strategic military base?

Thu, 07/02/2015 - 23:21 | 6264920 alfred b.
alfred b.'s picture

 

   Imagine that:  China building military bases in the South 'China' Seas....the nerve of these people!   That's practically on our doorstep!

   Next there'll be Russian war ships in the Black Sea!!

 

Thu, 07/02/2015 - 23:26 | 6264939 RSDallas
RSDallas's picture

I just do not get these Island Military Complexes and how they are a threat? CNN says the Islands can't withstand even the smallest "Shock and Awe". These man made islands do not mean anything. Bad money chasing even worst money!

Thu, 07/02/2015 - 23:49 | 6265010 Divine Wind
Divine Wind's picture

 

 

To understand one of the ways that they are seen as a strategic threat, go to a world map.

There, you will see that any ships carrying cargo/oil/whatever from the Indian Ocean to
the Pacific must cut through the S. China Sea. China has claimed more than 75% of that
body of as their territorial waters.

This makes for big troubles if China ever decided to enforce a no transit rule.

 

 

Fri, 07/03/2015 - 00:01 | 6265035 lakecity55
lakecity55's picture

It is a counter to USSA blocking the Malacca Strait.

Thu, 07/02/2015 - 23:34 | 6264962 falconflight
falconflight's picture

They don't look so formidable now without those female PLA posing.  Where are those photos?

Fri, 07/03/2015 - 07:28 | 6265593 'argar the 'orrible
'argar the 'orrible's picture

Yes! yes! more photos, with girls like those who would want to start a war ?

Thu, 07/02/2015 - 23:54 | 6265018 NoWayJose
NoWayJose's picture

Once we capture them they will make excellent bases for our bombers to refuel for attacks on the Chinese mainland.

The islands are too far from China too defend from the mainland, and unless they build more airfields or lots of carriers, there is no mutual support. A couple cruise missiles render the airfield unusable for a few days and they will fall in hours.

Despite what the US claims, the only military use for China might be surveillance, but I think it is more likely that the intent of the island building is to exploit the energy resources in the area.

Fri, 07/03/2015 - 01:06 | 6265148 Rock On Roger
Rock On Roger's picture

Did you forget that WWII was won because of manufacturing capacity?

 

Who has that capacity now? With a buddy next door who has all the resources necessary.

Fri, 07/03/2015 - 01:15 | 6265165 Abbie Normal
Abbie Normal's picture

A couple cruise missiles render the airfield unusable

And one ship killer missile will render the carrier group useless.

Your move...

 

Fri, 07/03/2015 - 03:57 | 6265368 Flybyknight
Flybyknight's picture

You must be employed by the US army for your clear sighted military planning.... or are you just a dickhead..

Fri, 07/03/2015 - 08:31 | 6265683 NoWayJose
NoWayJose's picture

Ever hear of Island Hoping? It won WWII.

Are the Chinese island hoping outward? Why? To invade Brunei? China is dependent on importing raw materials and shipping its exports. If it blocks the South a China Sea then the world will counter by sealing off shipping from Middle East oil, and China would not have any markets to ship its products to. I don't see this. China has learned that expanding your empire militarily has caused the collapse of most empires.

I am confident you will see China start drilling for oil, using these islands as a base.

Fri, 07/03/2015 - 12:57 | 6266431 angel_of_joy
angel_of_joy's picture

Ever heard of "manufacturing" ? That is what really won WWII... By the way, China can get every raw material under the sun from Russia, on land. Your history & geography knowledge is very limited indeed.

Fri, 07/03/2015 - 07:24 | 6265588 'argar the 'orrible
'argar the 'orrible's picture

I think the Chinese have thought of that, and taken apropriate precautions, wouldn't you have ?

Fri, 07/03/2015 - 08:34 | 6265688 NoWayJose
NoWayJose's picture

Just like the Japs in WWII?

Thu, 07/02/2015 - 23:57 | 6265027 NoWayJose
NoWayJose's picture

All the Chinese have to do is snap a few pictures and put out a press release saying that they are building oceanfront homes for their GLBT people -- then it will be OK.

Fri, 07/03/2015 - 00:21 | 6265067 Jack Burton
Jack Burton's picture

Facts on the sea?

Fri, 07/03/2015 - 00:32 | 6265089 Yen Cross
Yen Cross's picture

 Form a collective and start a curriculum, Bitchez<>

  I'll help you clowns.

Fri, 07/03/2015 - 07:19 | 6265576 'argar the 'orrible
&#039;argar the &#039;orrible's picture

What is this constant refferal to 'bitchez', is it a cultural thing or a joke I cannot understand, or maybe both?

I am not American by the way, although I do have distant relatives there; somewhere.

Anyone know of a Cote family, Olive, Faith, Alan from Dearborn, Michigan. Would be nice to contact.

Fri, 07/03/2015 - 00:33 | 6265092 agNau
agNau's picture

Amazing satellite images.
Let's see the MH17 shoot down images. Douchebags.

Fri, 07/03/2015 - 03:55 | 6265364 Flybyknight
Flybyknight's picture

Yes MH17 was the "lightbulb" moment for me. Proved that the BBC, CNN, Obama, Cameron and Abbot are all liars. Once that is an establishished fact in your mind it all becomes much clearer.

Fri, 07/03/2015 - 00:35 | 6265096 agNau
agNau's picture

"We are losing the information war!"
Yes we certainly are bitch!

Fri, 07/03/2015 - 07:06 | 6265558 'argar the 'orrible
&#039;argar the &#039;orrible's picture

The first casualty of war is truth, and we the west/nato are the biggest warmongers ever.

I am ashamed of the country I was born in, and I can understand the hostility of the countries we have brought death and misery to.

I am an old man without influence, but I hope there are some with the vigour of youth and of moral outrage to try and right the wrongs of these odious creatures, who are ruining the world for their own enrichment. Its your world, mine has gone, my father fought for a lie he didn't know about, and I implore the younger generation not to do the same.

Fri, 07/03/2015 - 00:39 | 6265102 ChargingHandle
ChargingHandle's picture

D

Fri, 07/03/2015 - 00:39 | 6265103 ChargingHandle
ChargingHandle's picture

Tick tock you don't stop

Fri, 07/03/2015 - 01:15 | 6265166 homebody
homebody's picture

They are going to keep on pushing - until they are stronger than us.  A country that has no concern about millions of its people will do anything for power.  

 

Okay you asshole anti-american trolls, tell us how you think the US is not any different.  Until lately we did have a moral compass but obummer has ruined that.  

Fri, 07/03/2015 - 06:19 | 6265483 GoldSilverBitcoinBug
GoldSilverBitcoinBug's picture

A moral compass ?

Like the incessant MENA wars especially Iraq with it's 1 million dead ?

Fucking retard, America destroyed everything it touch after WWII.

Fri, 07/03/2015 - 01:44 | 6265205 Omega_Man
Omega_Man's picture

Let's see the photos of the hundreds 500 plus of the US bases and floating bases 

Fri, 07/03/2015 - 11:28 | 6266170 Ginsengbull
Ginsengbull's picture

That's considered to be "need to know" information, and you don't.

Fri, 07/03/2015 - 01:46 | 6265206 Omega_Man
Omega_Man's picture

US gov sucks period. either you need to get rid of them or I hope Russia and China does it and raises the flag on the white house.... remember Berlin in 45

Fri, 07/03/2015 - 01:55 | 6265217 Yen Cross
Yen Cross's picture

 Lets start with "reality RANCH" Omega man

 Most leaders never asked for the job.

Fri, 07/03/2015 - 02:05 | 6265232 onmail
onmail's picture

BarackHomObamma : "OhMyAss, dey have kompleetd airstreep an' meelitaary faseeleetee, dat iz a grass violashun ov yummaan rites , bom' dem an' seize deir gold."

Fri, 07/03/2015 - 03:58 | 6265370 True Blue
True Blue's picture

The vital and overlooked factor here is so low-tech that it is ignored in almost every article about these islands.

Lighthouses.

The Chinese are not stupid; yet they are equipping these bases with 19th century technology that we have been deliberately phasing out for the past 50 years. Lighthouses.

Why? Why in the day and age of GPS and (more importantly) GPS navigated "smart" weapons would the only country on earth who retains and uses anti-satellite weaponry build lighthouses...

Our military "might" is dependent on GPS and the satellites that make it possible. Satellites that the Chinese have been busy perfecting the killing of....

2+2=

Fri, 07/03/2015 - 06:41 | 6265521 'argar the 'orrible
&#039;argar the &#039;orrible's picture

Ageed: but what are they putting IN those lighthouses

 

Fri, 07/03/2015 - 11:46 | 6266228 Village-idiot
Village-idiot's picture

Lighthouses are needed because of all the ships in the area that do not have GPS or radar, but still rely on old fashioned methods of line-of-sight to navigate.

Fri, 07/03/2015 - 04:26 | 6265402 Firewood
Firewood's picture

Get USed to the future. This is the changing of the guard. Just wait until China forecloses on all those deadbeat Pentacon Kill Industries pieces of prime global real estate known to the mob as USSA "military bases".

 

How do you say Gitmo (sic) in Chinese?

Fri, 07/03/2015 - 05:28 | 6265453 Rusputin
Rusputin's picture

Fiery Reef could make a great elite tourist destination after WW3...

Runway for the private jets and a deep harbour for the big yachts...

Might need a few palm trees and hanging baskets, but it could be pitched as "New South China Sea luxury resort... with an ancient miltary twist."

Fri, 07/03/2015 - 06:22 | 6265488 sudzee
sudzee's picture

Chineese long range bombers and survailence  planes will now have Diago Garcia within range. US being squeezed out of SEAsia and can't do anything about it except stir up the Japanese war machine to keep them offguard. The Japanese have been well trained as cannon fodder.

Fri, 07/03/2015 - 06:58 | 6265537 European on my ...
European on my shoe Jimmy's picture

It's their version of FEMA to house those sucker players who didn't learn the history of 1929

Fri, 07/03/2015 - 09:03 | 6265756 escapeefromOZ
escapeefromOZ's picture

I like this bit in the article " Since then, China’s land reclamation efforts in the disputed waters around the Spratlys have sparked an international furor and touched off a war of words between Washington and Beijing, with the Pentagon assuring China that the US Navy will continue to operate as before in the region and the PLA claiming it will enforce a no-fly zone over the islands “if threatened.” 

Have sparked an International Furor ....... ah,ah,ah,  And who be furious about that . The Asian Vassals of the USA and the EUropeans vassals ?   Who cares ? 

I do not care about what China  does . Anything to Fuck the USA is OK for me !



Fri, 07/03/2015 - 10:35 | 6266013 YHC-FTSE
YHC-FTSE's picture

I think you mean fuck the US Military Industrial/Bankster Complex mate. If there's one thing I've learned at ZH, there are a LOT of intelligent, decent american folks who feel the same as everyone else on the planet about the criminals in charge of the government following the PNAC playbook.

ZH can sometimes appear like an oasis of sanity in a surreal msm world, but I genuinely appreciate the ones who complain about the MIC and the lies from the MSM, then turn around and become all jingoistic and paranoid on articles like this one, because it gives me a valuable insight into the hypocrisy and blind hatred that can manifest itself in those who selectively buy into mainstream groupthink despite the reality. I think most folks project their own thoughts onto others.

Fri, 07/03/2015 - 11:42 | 6266209 Dominus Ludificatio
Dominus Ludificatio's picture

These are merely sanctuaries for their metal birds .They need a place to rest along their migration route to foreign lands. Much cheaper than the USS Ford aircraft carrier that cost $13 billions.

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