AP Exclusive: US admiral says China fully militarized isles

[Omaha Steve]

Source: AP

By JIM GOMEZ and AARON FAVILA

OVER THE SOUTH CHINA SEA (AP) — 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, a top U.S. military commander said Sunday.

U.S. Indo-Pacific commander Adm. John C. Aquilino said the hostile actions were in stark contrast to Chinese President Xi Jinping’s past assurances that Beijing would not transform the artificial islands in contested waters into military bases. The efforts were part of China’s flexing its military muscle, he said.

“I think over the past 20 years we’ve witnessed the largest military buildup since World War II by the PRC,” Aquilino told The Associated Press in an interview, using the initials of China’s formal name. “They have advanced all their capabilities and that buildup of weaponization is destabilizing to the region.”

There were no immediate comments from Chinese officials. Beijing maintains its military profile is purely defensive, arranged to protect what it says are its sovereign rights. But after years of increased military spending, China now boasts the world’s second largest defense budget after the U.S. and is rapidly modernizing its force with weapons systems including the J-20 stealth fighter, hypersonic missiles and two aircraft carriers, with a third under construction.



Admiral John C. Aquilino, left, Commander of the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command (INDOPACOM), looks at videos of Chinese structures and buildings on board a US P-8A Poseidon reconaisance plane flying at the Spratlys group of islands in the South China Sea on Sunday March 20, 2022. A U.S. Navy plane carrying a top American military commander was threatened repeatedly by radio on Sunday to leave the airspace over Chinese-occupied island garrisons in the disputed South China Sea, but the aircraft pressed on defiantly with its reconnaissance in brief but tense standoffs witnessed by two Associated Press journalists invited onboard. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila)


Read more: https://apnews.com/article/business-china-beijing-xi-jinping-south-china-sea-d229070bc2373be1ca515390960a6e6c

[Evolve Dammit]

1. This does not bode well. They want to do to Taiwan what Putin is waging in Ukraine. n/t

[BootinUp]

2. Maybe the domestic politics

will calm down, these "new" global concerns might focus some minds.

[TreasonousBastard]

3. Just what did they think the Chinese were building those islands for?

[calimary]

4. Yikes!

[llashram]

5. wouldn't be surprised

if China in league with Russia doesn't cause a crisis there...they built those islands for offence also. Forward bases. The Chinese have been projecting their military strength for a couple of years now. Ukraine-Taiwan. I believe it. Both Russia and China have fascists as their leaders. And China wants to dominate the whole of the South Pacific if not the world. And they are not hiding their intentions.

[SWBTATTReg]

6. From what I understand, some or all of these islands are slowing sinking back into the ocean.

Perhaps in the future, will be a moot point as to whether China is there or not anymore.