South China Sea: Beijing defiant over weapons deployment claims

[webfact]

South China Sea: Beijing defiant over weapons deployment claims

 

 

Beijing has reacted defiantly to claims that it appears to have installed weapons, including anti-aircraft and anti-missile systems, on all seven of the artificial islands it has built in the South China Sea.

 

A US think tank cited new satellite imagery in making the claims.

 

The Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative at the Center for Strategic and International Studies said it had been tracking construction of hexagonal structures on Fiery Cross, Mischief and Subi reefs in the disputed Spratlys chain since June and July.

 

“It now seems that these structures are an evolution of point-defense fortifications already constructed at China’s smaller facilities on Gaven, Hughes, Johnson, and Cuarteron reefs,” it said citing images taken in November.

 

China has always denied that it has any intention to militarise the islands in the strategic trade route, where territory is claimed by several countries.

 

However Beijing said on Thursday that, while its construction on islands and reefs in the South China Sea was mainly for civilian use, what it called “necessary military installations” were “legitimate and lawful”.

 

“The islands of the South China Sea are China’s inherent territory,” said Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang.

 

“China’s building of facilities and necessary territorial defensive facilities on its own territory is perfectly natural – the normal right of a sovereign nation under international law.”

 

China claims most of the South China Sea. But Malaysia, Brunei, the Philippines, Taiwan and Vietnam have rival claims.

 

The United States has pressed its demand for freedom of navigation by conducting periodic air and naval patrols near Beijing’s maritime outposts.

 

The US has called on China to respect the findings of the arbitration court in The Hague earlier this year which invalidated its vast territorial claims in the strategic waterway.

 

with Reuters

 

 

-- © Copyright Euronews 2016-12-16

[bangon04]

hey.. you could have stopped it maybe.... but you didn't. China now knows you are completely gutless, and will do whatever it wants, sooner or later. It is a war of attrition and you have already lost.

[chilli42]

It's game, set ..l match is not far behind.  The end was never really in doubt.  The 900 lb gorilla in Asa is China.  There is nobody who can stop them from having what they want.  The more strident the US and Asian Neighbour are the faster this process will unfold.

[craigt3365]

Quote

“China’s building of facilities and necessary territorial defensive facilities on its own territory is perfectly natural – the normal right of a sovereign nation under international law.”

 

Under international law, they wouldn't be allowed to be there period.  The international court ruling proved this.

[jobin]

If Spain were bigger and stronger, they would remove UK from Gibraltar.  If Cuba were bigger and stronger they would remove USA from Guantanamo.  If Argentina were bigger and stronger, they would remove UK from Falkland Islands.  Who's gonna 'remove' China?

[craigt3365]

12 minutes ago, jobin said:

If Spain were bigger and stronger, they would remove UK from Gibraltar.  If Cuba were bigger and stronger they would remove USA from Guantanamo.  If Argentina were bigger and stronger, they would remove UK from Falkland Islands.  Who's gonna 'remove' China?

Don't know about the others, but Guantanamo was a negotiated deal with the government way back when.  The US did help Cuba gain independence from Spain, if you remember.

[elgordo38]

5 hours ago, webfact said:

the normal right of a sovereign nation under international law.”

Mr. Xi it seems that international law has rejected your claim but then he who carries the biggest stick makes his own laws. 

[jcsmith]

3 hours ago, bangon04 said:

hey.. you could have stopped it maybe.... but you didn't. China now knows you are completely gutless, and will do whatever it wants, sooner or later. It is a war of attrition and you have already lost.

 

Gutless? Lol. Let's just start what could well lead to a nuclear war to show we aren't cowards! "What's the matter, are you yella?"

 

The truth here is that if they had done anything more than they had, there would be a ton of people saying how the U.S. needs to stop meddling in other countries affairs, how they are warmongers, etc. They've lodged their complaints, maintained a naval influence, that's all they can really do at this point.

[Kiwiken]

If China begins impeding the flow of shipping through the South China Sea then there will be an International issue. Thus far china is just posturing and bullying weaker neighbours

 

[mduras01]

Where can I apply for a tourist visa to visit these civilian-use islands?

[smudger1951]

We should have strangled this baby at birth instead of swapping pandas and the world will regret it. Possession is 9/10 ths of the law and more .

[TPI]

4 hours ago, craigt3365 said:

Don't know about the others, but Guantanamo was a negotiated deal with the government way back when.  The US did help Cuba gain independence from Spain, if you remember.

Oh c'mon, only Americans believe that the US took over Cuba for the Cubans, the US was really embarrassed when they realised they also had the Philippines as well!  "Manifest destiny" anyone?

[ExpatOilWorker]

4 hours ago, jobin said:

If Spain were bigger and stronger, they would remove UK from Gibraltar.  If Cuba were bigger and stronger they would remove USA from Guantanamo.  If Argentina were bigger and stronger, they would remove UK from Falkland Islands.  Who's gonna 'remove' China?

 

How about China?

8 of the 13 biggest wars in the world was in China, so they might have a go at it again.

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_wars_by_death_toll

[ExpatOilWorker]

1 hour ago, Kiwiken said:

If China begins impeding the flow of shipping through the South China Sea then there will be an International issue. Thus far china is just posturing and bullying weaker neighbours

 

 

They could do everybody a favor and stop all ships carrying cheap fake Chinese exports.

[impulse]

4 hours ago, jobin said:

If Spain were bigger and stronger, they would remove UK from Gibraltar.  If Cuba were bigger and stronger they would remove USA from Guantanamo.  If Argentina were bigger and stronger, they would remove UK from Falkland Islands.  Who's gonna 'remove' China?

 

It's not a matter of removing them.  Its's a matter of making it too costly for them to keep thumbing their nose at International Law.  

 

Like Japan in the '30s.  The parallels are striking. 

[elgordo38]

4 hours ago, jcsmith said:

 

Gutless? Lol. Let's just start what could well lead to a nuclear war to show we aren't cowards! "What's the matter, are you yella?"

 

The truth here is that if they had done anything more than they had, there would be a ton of people saying how the U.S. needs to stop meddling in other countries affairs, how they are warmongers, etc. They've lodged their complaints, maintained a naval influence, that's all they can really do at this point.

Seems I read on the news today that they are installing missiles as well. hardly maintaining just a naval presence. 

[Stargeezr]

Ahhhh  just   play  China's  game,   and help  Vietnam  and  the  other neighbouring

countries develop  some  of  the  other  islands!  Build  resorts   and  get  more

tourism  in  the  area,  it  looks  hot  enough  to be  tropical.  easy  peazy

fix.  Could  be  a  great  opportunity  for  a  Trump resort!

Geezer

[Kiwiken]

14 hours ago, impulse said:

 

It's not a matter of removing them.  Its's a matter of making it too costly for them to keep thumbing their nose at International Law.  

 

Like Japan in the '30s.  The parallels are striking. 

So you are saying then that like in the 1930's the USA has a policy of attempting to Bully China into either backing down or striking first as the Japanese decided to do in 1941. Be careful what you wish for.

[bangon04]

19 hours ago, craigt3365 said:

 

Under international law, they wouldn't be allowed to be there period.  The international court ruling proved this.

The People's Republic of China consistently operates under the norms of International Law. They regularly say so publicly whenever their spokesperson is making a statement about almost anything..

 

Unless of course it is not in line with China's national interests.

[jobin]

News this morning is that China has stolen some kind of underwater recording device the USA set out in the sea next to the PI coast line.  Not a military gizmo but the Chinese warship picked it up within 500 meters of the USA collection vessel.  Did not return the 'drone' as requested.

The USA boat was not armed, as far as i know.  Too bad. 

[craigt3365]

4 minutes ago, jobin said:

News this morning is that China has stolen some kind of underwater recording device the USA set out in the sea next to the PI coast line.  Not a military gizmo but the Chinese warship picked it up within 500 meters of the USA collection vessel.  Did not return the 'drone' as requested.

The USA boat was not armed, as far as i know.  Too bad. 

Good catch.  They can't be that stupid to steal military equipment?

 

http://edition.cnn.com/2016/12/16/politics/chinese-warship-underwater-drone-stolen/

 

Quote

 

The Pentagon is demanding that China return an "unlawfully seized" underwater drone after a Chinese warship took the device from waters near a US oceanographic vessel.

"We call upon China to return our UUV immediately, and to comply with all of its obligations under international law," Pentagon press secretary Peter Cook said in a statement, using the abbreviation for "unmanned underwater vehicle."

 

 

[maewang99]

yeah too bad the US "boat" wasn't armed and it definitely wasn't any kind of military thing.... this was just for science stuff.... ****and**** it is too bad "we" didn't have some guns???? [ummm..... maybe on purpose.. just maybe??????] wow!!!!! 

so..... we wouldn't have needed to make any coffee this morning?
even here in Thailand?

Iraq.... we trained them... and they didn't make any.  China we ****didn't**** train... but they do have them... even in LBJ's day they did.... we sure know that one.

did this change at all?  I don't think so.

 

ah, that's why we got to make coffee this morning!  so we can smell it!

 


 

Edited December 17, 2016 by maewang99

[impulse]

2 hours ago, jobin said:

News this morning is that China has stolen some kind of underwater recording device the USA set out in the sea next to the PI coast line.  Not a military gizmo but the Chinese warship picked it up within 500 meters of the USA collection vessel.  Did not return the 'drone' as requested.

The USA boat was not armed, as far as i know.  Too bad. 

 

That claim of "scientific equipment" is a good story.   Problem is, that chestnut has been debunked time and time again.  

 

We'll never really know.  Unless China takes it apart- live on the interweb.  And even then...  Who trusts them?