Exclusive: China finishing South China Sea buildings that could house missiles - U.S. officials
Source: Reuters
Wed Feb 22, 2017 | 6:14am EST
By Idrees Ali | WASHINGTON
China, in an early test of U.S. President Donald Trump, has nearly finished building almost two dozen structures on artificial islands in the South China Sea that appear designed to house long-range surface-to-air missiles, two U.S. officials told Reuters.
The development is likely to raise questions about whether and how the United States will respond, given its vows to take a tough line on China in the South China Sea.
China claims almost all the waters, which carry a third of the world's maritime traffic. Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan and Vietnam also have claims. Trump's administration has called China's island building in the South China Sea illegal.
Building the concrete structures with retractable roofs on Subi, Mischief and Fiery Cross reefs, part of the Spratly Islands chain where China already has built military-length airstrips, could be considered a military escalation, the U.S. officials said in recent days, speaking on condition of anonymity.
Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/us-china-usa-southchinasea-exclusive-idUSKBN161029
yallerdawg
(16,104 posts)7962
(11,841 posts)yallerdawg
(16,104 posts)Why would China make any claim to ocean waters in the South China Sea?
Maybe we should just change the name?
7962
(11,841 posts)But sure, we could change the name. I'm sure something like that would have to go before the UN & guess who would veto it?
even with Alaska and hawaii, we dont claim water out further than the normally recognized limits
yallerdawg
(16,104 posts)where the US has had occupying, fighting military forces on their northern and western borders, we should just pretend like we may not appear to be the aggressor in some of these situations?
Let's just ignore history - and proclaim China as the next evil empire.
7962
(11,841 posts)Wonder how THAT would work out?
Not very well.
LanternWaste
(37,748 posts)A rational mind realizes that there are far more than two simplistic options. But of course...
7962
(11,841 posts)I'm sure all will be amazed at the brilliant prognostications of the all-knowing one.
EX500rider
(10,881 posts)I guess we should stop dredging in reefs and making new military island bases and "claiming" the surrounding waters and seizing territory from the Phillipines, etc, and ignoring the World Courts ruling on the matter.....oh, wait, that's China doing all that...
This look like it should all belong to China?:
Friend or Foe
(195 posts)Achilleaze
(15,543 posts)I suppose the Draft-Dodger-in-Chief and his Cabal of Republican Cronies figure that since they are on TEAM RUSSIA, they can kick planetary ass.
Sad.
Hell, it's freakin tragic.
Corgigal
(9,291 posts)care about intelligence briefings when we want to get our war on.
Check....who are these officials? Could hold weapons?
Before the war starts, can we do a JFK? Show us what you have.
Didn't China tells us when Trump was elected that they were preparing for war? Thanks Bannon.