Chinese oil rig Haiyang Shi You 981 (C) is seen in the South China Sea, off the shore of Vietnam in this May 14, 2014 file photo. REUTERS/Minh Nguyen/Files
James Goldrick, Lowy Institute, Real Clear Defense: Beijing's South China Sea "Land Creation"
At What Cost?
China's leadership faces difficult decisions in the South China Sea. China is at some risk of achieving what it sees as a military success at the price of losing the peace.
There is increasing evidence that its land creation (for they are not 'reclamation') activities in the South China Sea are developing a network of bases that will support fixed sensors, such as radars and underwater arrays, as well as the operations of air and seaborne surveillance units. The cumulative effect intended by Chinese planners appears to be to make it too dangerous during a conflict for other nations, most notably the US, to conduct significant military operations in the area, whether on, under or over the South China Sea; and certainly to make sure that none will go undetected in peace time.
Read more ....
WNU Editor: I cannot help but sense that China is pursuing its territorial ambitions with the expectation that this will all blow-over in the next few years. But if they think this will "blow-over" .... I doubt it. China may get what it wants, but for all practical purposes it has damaged its diplomatic relations with almost every country in the region .... and this damage is multi-generational .... meaning it will be an issue and a sore-point for decades to come.
Post a Comment
Post a Comment