Exclusive: China finishing South China Sea buildings that could house missiles - U.S. officials

[DonViejo]

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]

1. You'd think China was paranoid or something.

[7962]

5. We're not claiming the area as ours.

[yallerdawg]

6. Not counting Alaska and Hawaii, of course.

Why would China make any claim to ocean waters in the South China Sea?

Maybe we should just change the name?

[7962]

7. Does India claim the entire Indian Ocean?

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]

8. So - exactly as in the case of Iran...

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]

9. or we could pull out of everywhere and let the chips fall where they may.

Wonder how THAT would work out?
Not very well.

[LanternWaste]

10. A rational mind realizes that there are far more than two simplistic options .

A rational mind realizes that there are far more than two simplistic options. But of course...

[7962]

11. Yes please enlighten all the plebes with your extensive knowledge on the subject

I'm sure all will be amazed at the brilliant prognostications of the all-knowing one.

[EX500rider]

12. The US the aggressor in the S China Sea? Not...

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]

2. I blame Obama

[Achilleaze]

3. Chickenhawk Comrade Casino is busy having pissing contests with Iran, Korea & China

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]

4. So I guess we only

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.