High above one of the most hotly contested regions in the world, CNN was given a rare look Friday at the Chinese government's rapidly expanding militarization of the South China Sea

Aboard a US Navy P-8A Poseidon reconnaissance plane, CNN got a view from 16,500 feet of low-lying coral reefs turned into garrisons with five-story buildings, large radar installations, power plants and runways sturdy enough to carry large military aircraft.
During the flight the crew received six separate warnings from the Chinese military, telling them they were inside Chinese territory and urging them to leave.

"Leave immediately and keep out to avoid any misunderstanding," a voice said.
The US Navy jet flew past four key artificial islands in the Spratly chain where China has built up fortifications: Subi Reef, Fiery Cross Reef, Johnson Reef and Mischief Reef.

On Subi Reef, the Poseidon's sensors picked up 86 vessels, including Chinese coast guard ships, moored in a giant lagoon, while on Fiery Cross Reef rows of hangers stood alongside a lengthy runway.
"It was surprising to see airports in the middle of the ocean," said Lt. Lauren Callen, who was leading the air combat crew aboard the Navy flight. Each time the aircraft was challenged by Chinese military, the US Navy crew's response was the same: "I am a sovereign immune United States naval aircraft conducting lawful military activities beyond the national airspace of any coastal state," the response said.
"In exercising these rights guaranteed by international law, I am operating with due regard for the rights and duties of all states."

Competing claims
The Chinese government staunchly maintains large areas of the South China Sea have been part of the country's territory "since ancient times."
Beijing's "nine-dash line" extends more than one thousand kilometers from its southernmost province, taking in more or less the entirety of the waters, through which the United Nations estimates one-third of global shipping passes.

The South China Sea is also believed to contain rich oil and natural gas reserves that have yet to be fully explored.
Vietnam, the Philippines, Taiwan, Indonesia, Malaysia and Brunei all claim overlapping portions of the sea which spans 3.6 million square kilometer (1.4 million square miles), but the most far-reaching claims have been made by China.

Rapid expansion
The last time CNN was given access to a US Navy mission over the South China Sea was in September 2015, when the aircraft was also warned off by Chinese military.
Since then, Beijing's island building in the contested waters has moved forward at a rapid pace.
Flying over Fiery Cross Reef on Friday, a five-story building was visible, as well as a large radar installation, which looked like neatly arranged golf balls on the Navy plane's infrared camera.
Though no Chinese missiles were seen on Friday's flight over the South China Sea, Navy officers said some of the structures seen could potentially be used to house them.


Culled: https://edition.cnn.com/2018/08/10/politics/south-china-sea-flyover-intl/index.html

Us does not have the monopoly of militatization. And shud shut the fuk up

China and Nigeria are fast developing together!








PMB has my thumb � once more

ednut1:
Us does not have the monopoly of militatization. And shud shut the fuk up

If you have been following international politics deeply, it is a well known fact that the South China sea is a hugely contested area fought over by Vietam, China and some other country ( I can't readily remember now). China just claims they have owned that part of the sea (largely 2 /3rds ) for hundreds of years. Which the international community views as debatable.

These installation did not get the blessing of the UN. Do you truly believe that have sovereign power to build secretly over such a hugely contested area especially as it has been found to have large deposits of minerals and fossil fuel? Let's leave sentiments aside

vivaciousvivi:


If you have been following international politics deeply, it is a well known fact that the South China sea is a hugely contested area fought over by Vietam, China and some other country ( I can't readily remember now). China just claims they have owned that part of the sea (largely 2 /3rds ) for hundreds of years. Which the international community views as debatable.

These installation did not get the blessing of the UN. Do you truly believe that have sovereign power to build secretly over such a hugely contested area especially as it has been found to have large deposits of minerals and fossil fuel? Let's leave sentiments aside

the usa can do what it likes cos it has power. Dey can go to libya syria iraq to destroy it. China too has power if those claiming the land are not happy they shud go fight for it na. Afterall uk and argentina went to war over falklands which rightly shud belong to argentina. No need for double standards. Power rules and the americans shud mind der business

ednut1:
the usa can do what it likes cos it has power. Dey can go to libya syria iraq to destroyed it. China too has power if those claiming the land are not happy they shud go fight for it na. Afterall uk and argentina went to war over falklands which rightly shud belong to argentina. No need for double standards. Power rules and the americans shud mind der business

Haba now!
The US doesn's just wake up and start showing aggression. You know this.
Also, they are usually backed by a more timid but equally intolerant UN and get the blessings to form coalition military teams to fight these wars (mostly from the UK and France).
U dislike this US gan o.

Its also your fundamental human right as a citizen of the world to know if your life may be threatened in any way by any country acting against world peace - hope that didn't come out too corny

the US Navy crew's response was the same: "I am a sovereign immune United States naval aircraft conducting lawful military activities beyond the national airspace of any coastal state,"

I wonder what the Amerikan bastards would have done if the same intrusion was made by an Iranian or North Korean aircraft over Hawaii or Alaska.

I chose not to use Russia as an example since Amerika recognizes Russia as her father in terms of military strength & escalation dominance.

Each time Mother Russia intrudes the American airspace, the bastards only whine like kindergarten babies without taking any actions for fear of being nuked back to the stone age by Russian heavy long-range nuclear bombers.

https://www.nairaland.com/2475166/norad-russian-bombers-broadcast-july

vivaciousvivi:

Haba now!
The US doesn's just wake up and start showing aggression. You know this.
Also, they are usually backed by a more timid but equally intolerant UN and get the blessings to form coalition military teams to fight these wars (mostly from the UK and France).
U dislike this US gan o.

Its also your fundamental human right as a citizen of the world to know if your life may be threatened in any way by any country acting against world peace - hope that didn't come out too corny

spare us the bs us uk and france are all useless bullies. They shud mind der business. They have bases everywhere. Even in Niger rep which means dey can finish nigeria in like 3 hours dropping bombs on our bases. Abeg make dem live china alone. If those countries are not happy dey shud go and fight .

ednut1:
spare us the bs us uk and france are all useless bullies. They shud mind der business. They have bases everywhere. Even in Niger rep which means dey can finish nigeria in like 3 hours dropping bombs on our bases. Abeg make dem live china alone. If those countries are not happy dey shud go and fight .

I believe we were making intelligent dialogue.
There was truly no need for this.
Enjoy your afternoon.

That’s just an airport in china, look closely, you’ll see the runway

vivaciousvivi:


I believe we were making intelligent dialogue.
There was truly no need for this.
Enjoy your afternoon.

no vex na .

mrAMG:
That’s just an airport in china, look closely, you’ll see the runway

Did U Read D Story?

ednut1:
spare us the bs us uk and france are all useless bullies. They shud mind der business. They have bases everywhere. Even in Niger rep which means dey can finish nigeria in like 3 hours dropping bombs on our bases. Abeg make dem live china alone. If those countries are not happy dey shud go and fight .

Fight? China Don't Want U.S In Their Backward

vivaciousvivi:


I believe we were making intelligent dialogue.
There was truly no need for this.
Enjoy your afternoon.

Sometimes I wonder what countries like china or Russia will do if they were world power ....

And the last time I checked, china is a communist country. Go figure that out.

I believe US is there for checks and balances.

If not, do you think all these terrorists wouldn't have nuked us to Stone Age?

Anyway, to everyone shouting Russia/China, lets wait and see how they will handle world peace/fight terrorists, especially in Nigeria.

US, etc may be bullies according to some people but I think I still prefer such bullies than Russian/Chinese et al

DEHVEHLOP:
China and Nigeria are fast developing together!









PMB has my thumb � once more

The delusion is great with this one.

Zoharariel:


I wonder what the Amerikan bastards would have done if the same intrusion was made by an Iranian or North Korean aircraft over Hawaii or Alaska.

I chose not to use Russia as an example since Amerika recognizes Russia as her father in terms of military strength & escalation dominance.

Each time Mother Russia intrudes the American airspace, the bastards only whine like kindergarten babies without taking any actions for fear of being nuked back to the stone age by Russian heavy long-range nuclear bombers.

https://www.nairaland.com/2475166/norad-russian-bombers-broadcast-july

lol

What is Uncle Sam doing that far away from the Atlantic ?

bigl:
Sometimes I wonder what countries like china or Russia will do if they were world power ....

And the last time I checked, china is a communist country. Go figure that out.

I believe US is there for checks and balances.

If not, do you think all these terrorists wouldn't have nuked us to Stone Age?

Anyway, to everyone shouting Russia/China, lets wait and see how they will handle world peace/fight terrorists, especially in Nigeria.

US, etc may be bullies according to some people but I think I still prefer such bullies than Russian/Chinese et al

Tell you a secret. Promise me not to tell anyone.

China is one of the United Nations P5.
China is one of the five legal nuclear weapon states in the world.
China's currency is the world's top 3 international currency, the IMF elite reserve currency, enjoy special drawing rights（SDR）. It is called "paper gold".
China leads Asia Investment Bank and SCO（Shanghai Cooperation Organization）.
The world's military power ranks in the top three.
The world arms exports rank in the top three.
And other things. For example, the world's second largest economy. with foreign exchange reserves of $3 trillion, the world's largest creditor country..........No discussion, because you can't understand.

You say China is a Communist country, so... Does this give you some kind of illusion?

So how many secrets have these poor and backward capitalist countries kept from you?

bigl:
Sometimes I wonder what countries like china or Russia will do if they were world power ....

And the last time I checked, china is a communist country. Go figure that out.

I believe US is there for checks and balances.

If not, do you think all these terrorists wouldn't have nuked us to Stone Age?

Anyway, to everyone shouting Russia/China, lets wait and see how they will handle world peace/fight terrorists, especially in Nigeria.

US, etc may be bullies according to some people but I think I still prefer such bullies than Russian/Chinese et al

China is a communist country any problem with that?

bigl:
Sometimes I wonder what countries like china or Russia will do if they were world power ....

And the last time I checked, china is a communist country. Go figure that out.

I believe US is there for checks and balances.

If not, do you think all these terrorists wouldn't have nuked us to Stone Age?

Anyway, to everyone shouting Russia/China, lets wait and see how they will handle world peace/fight terrorists, especially in Nigeria.

US, etc may be bullies according to some people but I think I still prefer such bullies than Russian/Chinese et al

Chai, this one still believes USA is fighting terrorism

China,is fast becoming among the world leaders