US: China Fully Militarizes 3 Islands in Disputed South China Sea

[sanman]

So many things happening on Biden's watch. China appears to have used the distraction created by the Ukraine conflict to fully militarize its artificial islands in the South China Sea, fully activating their defense systems.
It's Game On.

US: China Fully Militarizes 3 Islands in Disputed South China Sea

Recently, a U.S. military commander showed reporters the China’s military buildup on man-made islands in the South China Sea. China claims almost all of the disputed waterway.

learningenglish.voanews.com

US: China Fully Militarizes 3 Islands in Disputed South China Sea​

A top United States military commander told the Associated Press that China has fully militarized at least three islands in the disputed South China Sea.

The islands are among several man-made islands in waters claimed by several countries in East Asia. The U.S. does have any claim in the disputed area. But it said China has deployed anti-ship and anti-aircraft missile systems, laser and jamming equipment, and fighter jets there.

Admiral John Aquilino is the head of the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command. He said the actions are against past Chinese promises not to turn the man-made islands into military bases.

China fully militarizes key South China Sea features

While international attention is transfixed on the war in Ukraine, China has fully militarized three of its occupied islands in the contested South China Sea. Speaking aboard a P-8 Poseidon on patr…

asiatimes.com

China fully militarizes key South China Sea features​

Ukraine war may have provided strategic cover for China’s full militarization of Mischief, Subi and Fiery Cross reefs

While international attention is transfixed on the war in Ukraine, China has fully militarized three of its occupied islands in the contested South China Sea.

Speaking aboard a P-8 Poseidon on patrol in the South China Sea, US Indo-Pacific Commander Admiral John Aquilino said on March 20 that “China has fully militarized at least three of several islands it built in the disputed South China Sea, arming them with anti-ship and anti-aircraft missile systems, laser and jamming equipment and fighter jets in an increasingly aggressive move that threatens all nations operating nearby.”

According to Aquilino, China’s facilities on Mischief Reef, Subi Reef and Fiery Cross Reef appear to have been completed. He said it is yet to be seen whether China will start construction of additional military facilities in its other occupied features in the maritime area.

 

[LostinThought]

Well this suck, let's hope that they think better of it and don't try anything brash.

Although I think that the US still has exercises going on around their neck of the woods. So at least we have a small force that would work to act as a deterrent, at least visually.

 

[Yakshi]

Shrug

 

[ElChupacabra]

I can't help but wonder how typhoon proof those man made islands are because by the looks of it a strong storm surge will wash over the surface pretty quickly. I can't say that I'm surprised China is ramping up because they no have to contend with an administration that is increasing its focus on the South China Sea and the region in general. Whether it's China or Russia, their actions come at a time the US reasserted its focus on containing those two nations.

 

[TU Curmudgeon]

I can't help but wonder how typhoon proof those man made islands are because by the looks of it a strong storm surge will wash over the surface pretty quickly.

That's a good question. You can't really tell from the photos in this article, but I thought that some members might find "Explainer: What are China's 'artificial islands' and why are there concerns about them" (from Australia's News9) interesting.

I can't say that I'm surprised China is ramping up because they no have to contend with an administration that is increasing its focus on the South China Sea and the region in general. Whether it's China or Russia, their actions come at a time the US reasserted its focus on containing those two nations.

 

[Metric Mouse]

The beginning of the end for Taiwan. Hopefully Biden doesn't escalate his trade war with China over this

 

[Luce]

So many things happening on Biden's watch.

Those islands began being built on Biden's watch?

 

[sanman]

Those islands began being built on Biden's watch?

Them being weaponized on Biden's watch. But as we all know, The Buck Never Stops With Biden

 

[Luce]

Them being weaponized on Biden's watch. But as we all know, The Buck Never Stops With Biden

They've been weaponized since they were above the ocean. China has just now completed that weaponization.

You don't seem to know very much about this.

 

[sanman]

They've been weaponized since they were above the ocean. China has just now completed that weaponization.

You don't seem to know very much about this.

I've been following in detail what's been going on for years. The fact is that their long range fire control radars weren't enabled before and now are. They are now fully able to declare active Air Defense Zones around themselves, for interdiction of air and sea traffic.

 

[Mr Person]

So many things happening on Biden's watch. China appears to have used the distraction created by the Ukraine conflict to fully militarize its artificial islands in the South China Sea, fully activating their defense systems.
It's Game On.

US: China Fully Militarizes 3 Islands in Disputed South China Sea

Recently, a U.S. military commander showed reporters the China’s military buildup on man-made islands in the South China Sea. China claims almost all of the disputed waterway.

learningenglish.voanews.com

US: China Fully Militarizes 3 Islands in Disputed South China Sea​

China fully militarizes key South China Sea features

While international attention is transfixed on the war in Ukraine, China has fully militarized three of its occupied islands in the contested South China Sea. Speaking aboard a P-8 Poseidon on patr…

asiatimes.com

Those islands began being built on Biden's watch?

You know how it goes: if a bad thing happens while a D is president, the D is automatically to blame and in fact conspired to ensure that it happen.

 

[Luce]

I've been following in detail what's been going on for years. The fact is that their long range fire control radars weren't enabled before and now are. They are now fully able to declare active Air Defense Zones around themselves, for interdiction of air and sea traffic.

And they started the installation of the weapon & fire control systems when?

 

[CaughtInThe]

They've been weaponized since they were above the ocean. China has just now completed that weaponization.

You don't seem to know very much about this.

It's sad.

 

[NoMoreDems-Reps]

So many things happening on Biden's watch. China appears to have used the distraction created by the Ukraine conflict to fully militarize its artificial islands in the South China Sea, fully activating their defense systems.
It's Game On.

US: China Fully Militarizes 3 Islands in Disputed South China Sea

Recently, a U.S. military commander showed reporters the China’s military buildup on man-made islands in the South China Sea. China claims almost all of the disputed waterway.

learningenglish.voanews.com

US: China Fully Militarizes 3 Islands in Disputed South China Sea​

China fully militarizes key South China Sea features

While international attention is transfixed on the war in Ukraine, China has fully militarized three of its occupied islands in the contested South China Sea. Speaking aboard a P-8 Poseidon on patr…

asiatimes.com

You know in the 2020 election Cyber Security people stated that they recorded China, Russia, and Iran logging in to US Election Servers !.....

Now we have Russia invading Ukraine, China building up for disputed in the South China Sea, and Iran about ready to get the old Obama
agreement !......

It's almost as if they helped Biden get in so they could get some concessions !????.....

 

[Hypothetical]

You know how it goes: if a bad thing happens while a D is president, the D is automatically to blame and in fact conspired to ensure that it happen.

that's how it happens with every president., not just a D.

 

[sanman]

And they started the installation of the weapon & fire control systems when?

Sure, they did it before, but the critical threshold was making them operational and thus detectable. And that's now happened during this Ukraine crisis. China knows that the US can't afford to engage in any escalatory response when it has its eyeball on Russia-Ukraine. China has gamed all of this very well, and has come out ahead. What's Biden doing to stop that?

 

[Luce]

Sure, they did it before, but the critical threshold was making them operational and thus detectable. And that's now happened during this Ukraine crisis. China knows that the US can't afford to engage in any escalatory response when it has its eyeball on Russia-Ukraine. China has gamed all of this very well, and has come out ahead. What's Biden doing to stop that?

You think he should have parachuted in and shot Xi in his office?

 

[The Mark]

Them being weaponized on Biden's watch. But as we all know, The Buck Never Stops With Biden

Someone is always going to be willing to blame a previous or subsequent president for anything another blames on one they support.

Personally I think it's a bit silly how we constantly blame our presidents for stuff they had no control over, but it's even sillier how they take credit for stuff they had no control over.

 

[Mr Person]

Biden should do what he can right now to revive the TPP. Beef it up, create more webs of economic relation between non-China countries in the global vicinity.

 

[Hamish Howl]

I can't help but wonder how typhoon proof those man made islands are because by the looks of it a strong storm surge will wash over the surface pretty quickly

🍿

 

[sanman]

You think he should have parachuted in and shot Xi in his office?

No, he should have had Corn Pop do it - because Corn Pop is a really bad dude

I think Corn Pop should get his own Reality TV show

This is how Joe & Corn Pop would have killed lil Rocket Man Kim

 

[TU Curmudgeon]

I've been following in detail what's been going on for years. The fact is that their long range fire control radars weren't enabled before and now are.

In short, someone has turned them on - right?

They are now fully able to declare active Air Defense Zones around themselves, for interdiction of air and sea traffic.

Oh heck, any country can "declare active Air Defense Zones" of any size it feels like declaring.

What the countries can NOT do is actually attack aircraft that are flying in the AIDZ but which are NOT actually within the recognized territorial area of the country - at least they can't do it legally. The US can fly all of the aircraft it wants to fly 12.1 miles off the coast of China and there isn't anything that China can (legally) do about it. The PRC can fly all of the aircraft it wants to fly 12.1 miles off the coast of the US and there isn't anything that the US can (legally) do about it. Heck, if the Chinese could negotiate "free overflight" agreements with Canada and Mexico, the PRC could fly aircraft 12.1 miles off the Pacific Coast of the US, make a left and then fly 0.1 miles south of the US/Mexican border, make a left and then fly 12.1 miles off the Atlantic coast of the US, make a left and then fly 0.1 miles north of the Canada/US border, make a left and fly 12.1 miles off the Pacific ... (well you get the drift) and there wouldn't be anything that the US could legally do to stop them.

You do know that no country has the legal right to "interdict" either air or sea traffic within an ADIZ unless the air or sea traffic is actually within the internationally recognized national territory of that country - don't you?

 

[TU Curmudgeon]

Biden should do what he can right now to revive the TPP. Beef it up, create more webs of economic relation between non-China countries in the global vicinity.

The problem with that is that the countries that signed on to the "Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership" (CPTPP) are quite happy with a mutually beneficial trade arrangement that is NOT dictated to by the US government, one that they do NOT have to let the US join, and one that hold out a lot of promise for creating a "trade bloc" with more clout than the "quintuple A" ("Always About American Advantage Agreement") one that the Trump administration was pushing for.