PLAN SCS Bases/Islands/Vessels (Not a Strategy Page)

Jeff Head

Jeff Head

General
Registered Member
shen said:
Philippines is actually much richer than Vietnam in both absolute and per capita terms. So one has to wonder why they can't come up with the same resources.
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When I speak to "resource," I am talking about the military resource, and the reclamation resource..

One look at the differences in the two militaries...and precisely what they are doing in the SCS makes that point.

As to why? There could be many reasons.

Vietnam, for whatever reason, is putting in place a much stronger military capability than the Philippines. And there reclamation efforts...although completely dwarfed by the PRC, are still significantly more involved than the Philippines.

The big news for Vietnam is actual reclamation efforts they are making on one of their islands. The big news for the Philippines is their desire to make an older, damaged and beached vessel on a reef more habitable for a few military personnel inhabiting it.
 
shen

shen

Senior Member
Blackstone said:
What do you suppose the odds are China may someday build hardened bunkers for a regiment of strike fighters?
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China has made it clear the new island bases are primarily civilian in purpose but with potential military utility. I think what Chinese military assets are actually deployed to the islands will depend on the military threat to China in the region. At present, Chinese civilian law enforcement assets are enough to deal with threats in the region. (not including the premature accusation of Chinese SPG on Fiery Cross which turned out to be heavy trucks) But in the future, if the US and or Japan choose to deploy additional military assets to SCS and increase tension in the region, China may of course choose to and be well within its right to deploy additional military assets to the new island bases.

I think we can agree that the recent Obama administration decision to get involved in the SCS sovereignty dispute is wrongheaded. If the US is genuinely only concerned inFreedom of Navigation in SCS, rather than using that as an excuse to contain China's rise, the US should stop muddying the water and stay out the sovereignty dispute.
 
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tidalwave

Senior Member
Registered Member
Xisha island groups has alot more than just woody island. There are rooms to grow if they want reclaim more lands.
 

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tidalwave

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Yet it is Harris, the top U.S. military commander in the region, who in private has been one of the biggest proponents of sailing U.S. warships within 12 miles of the islands, according to a government official directly familiar with his thinking. Harris’ staff did not respond to a request for an interview, but a senior Pentagon official who asked not to be named confirmed the differing viewpoints and Harris’ — and the wider Pacific Command’s — position.

Harris is ethnically half Japanese commander of the seventh fleet.
potential red flag, could be ulterior motive working using his position. He also had big talk of easily bomb out those man-made island. Way too aggressive with words publically for someone his position in USN.
 
Blackstone

Blackstone

Brigadier
tidalwave said:
Yet it is Harris, the top U.S. military commander in the region, who in private has been one of the biggest proponents of sailing U.S. warships within 12 miles of the islands, according to a government official directly familiar with his thinking. Harris’ staff did not respond to a request for an interview, but a senior Pentagon official who asked not to be named confirmed the differing viewpoints and Harris’ — and the wider Pacific Command’s — position.

Harris is ethnically half Japanese commander of the seventh fleet.
potential red flag, could be ulterior motive working using his position. He also had big talk of easily bomb out those man-made island. Way too aggressive with words publically for someone his position in USN.
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My take is Admiral Harris is an American patriot serving his country loyally, faithfully, and to the best of his ability. It just so happens he's of half-Japanese ethnicity.
 
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Jeff Head

Jeff Head

General
Registered Member
tidalwave said:
Harris is ethnically half Japanese commander of the seventh fleet.

potential red flag, could be ulterior motive working using his position. He also had big talk of easily bomb out those man-made island.

Way too aggressive with words publically for someone his position in USN.
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Tidal wave ... STOP ...with your unfounded attacks and innuendo.

Harris is a professional. He is forthright and direct...but no more so than numerous PRC general officers.

You can disagree with him...but please do not make such comments about his ethnicity and your own bias leading you to question his loyalty and duty.

DO NOT RESPOND TO THIS MODERATION
 
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Blitzo

Blitzo

Lieutenant General
Staff member
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I just have to chime in that I think it's a bit of a mess that we have three or four threads ongoing about the SCS issue...

This thread was originally about the South Sea Fleet and its bases... but also islands. This means we don't really have a thread for South Sea Fleet activities like we do for the East Sea and North Sea Fleets... although i suppose they're not posted in often.
 
Jeff Head

Jeff Head

General
Registered Member
Bltizo said:
I just have to chime in that I think it's a bit of a mess that we have three or four threads ongoing about the SCS issue...

This thread was originally about the South Sea Fleet and its bases... but also islands.
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Bltizo, I tend to agree and have attempted, in the past, to keep the strategizing off of this thread.

We have two threads for SCS strategy, one for China and one for other nations. That has been done to try and alleviate some of the high emotion that goes with the various claimants.

This thread should be more about the factual nature of what is occurring at the bases and the islands.

I will once again emphasize that point here.
 
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