China to build up atoll in contested South China Sea, source says

[jpak]

Source: South China Morning Post

China will start reclamation at the Scarborough Shoal in the South China Sea later this year and may add an airstrip to extend its air force’s reach over the contested waters, a military source and mainland maritime experts say.

A source close to the PLA Navy said Beijing would ramp up work to establish a new outpost 230km off the coast of the Philippines as the US and Manila drew their militaries closer together.

An upcoming ruling on territorial claims by the Permanent Court of Arbitration at The Hague, widely expected to go against China, would also accelerate the plan, the source said.

Manila wants the court to ­declare that Beijing’s claims must comply with the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, and the decision could come next month or in June.

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Read more: http://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy-defence/article/1938277/china-build-atoll-contested-south-china-sea-source-says

[drm604]

1. Let's hope that cooler heads prevail on this.

There must be non-military ways for other nations to put pressure on China.

[7962]

2. Why dont all these other countries just do the same? Make a stand.

Its obvious that most of these islands are other countries territories. Why doesn Vietnam, Malaysia, Philippines, etc just start putting their people on some of these islands? CHina would piss and moan about it, but likely do nothing.

[jpak]

4. Vietnam and China fought real battle over the Spratlys in 1988 - Vietnam lost badly

It was a massacre...

3 VN ships sunk, 64 sailors killed - there is actual footage of this on youtube - not for the faint of heart (and I won't post it).

[newthinking]

6. Actually they had already done the same on other islands

But do you really expect the press to mention this?
Not that it justifies China's moves, but does change slightly the story.

[ripcord]

3. Only in China

Would they have the People's Liberation Army's Navy.

[whereisjustice]

5. Every job we send to China is helping to build this

[newthinking]

7. True. A question I was asking many years ago.

You could see this a mile ahead. If the Chinese were a threat why did we encourage the flow of masses of capital and industry.

[Depaysement]

8. Profit nt