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

Blackstone said:

Your claims are demonstrably false.

Have you read some global news lately?.

Click to expand...

There is not much to discuss with you if you are so intellectually limited that you think of the Mexican drug wars in Mexico as an attempt to retake territory in the USA.

You are discussing conflicts and wars.
I am discussing revanchist territory grabs as official foreign policy.

These are different subjects, but you do not discern this distinction.

@ nfgc

... first of all leave these personnel attacks and second in mind of a political discussion - which is against the forum rules !! - You always need to consider who has claims at what time.

You might be correct, that China's expanding military presence and capabilities are deemed expansionistic, but who had the original claims, who came in this area and grabbed all islands at a time, when China was weak ?? I do not want to takes sides, but it could also be seen that China simply regains what it had long lost, it retakes its once established position ...

But that should be enough; no more political debates.

Deino

Oh god people. The political elite in the US and China do not care in the least about our opinion and will do whatever they want. Can't everyone stop arguing, accept our insignificance in global affairs and simply observe events as they unfold?

Lighthouse on Zhubi

More pictures of the completed lighthouse at Zhubi Island.



The location of the lighthouse.


Some older pictures dated 6th March, 2016.

I know artificial islands by themselves only get 500 meter safety zones around them, but do artificial islands that are large enough to enable human habitation that generate sustainable economic activities get 200 mile EEZs? It's playing the loophole gambit, but if it's not illegal under international law, then it's legal until the ICJ says otherwise.

Blackstone said:

I know artificial islands by themselves only get 500 meter safety zones around them, but do artificial islands that are large enough to enable human habitation that generate sustainable economic activities get 200 mile EEZs? It's playing the loophole gambit, but if it's not illegal under international law, then it's legal until the ICJ says otherwise.

Click to expand...

If we're referring to Subi Reef, it is within the territorial sea of Sandy Cay which is a feature above high tide. It is currently unoccupied but not outside of Chinese claims (as well as others I'm sure). But because of the proximity, international law may permit Subi to be used to extend the territorial sea of Sandy Cay. It doesn't answer your question of artificial islands being entitled to an EEZ but the build up on Subi is not as illegal as some paint it.

"We are going to build a giant wall of sand around the South China Sea and we're going to make America pay for it! Make China Great Again!"-Xi Jinping, 2016

Fresh Water Well in Taiping Island, Spratly-South China Sea





In UNCLOS under Article 121, Definition of an Island is, that can support human habitation or economic life on their own.
And to support Human Habitation in the Island, you need Natural Fresh Water source in that island.
Natural Fresh water source is an Absolute Requirement for that.

And Taiping Island is the only island with Natural fresh water source in the Spratly archipelago.

So According to UNCLOS as defined in Article 121, that's mean Taiping meets the criteria of an island.
Therefore, with regard to Taiping Island, the Chinese (PRC/ROC) enjoys full rights associated with territorial waters, a contiguous zone, an 200 Mile Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), and a continental shelf in accordance with UNCLOS in the South China Sea Zone.

And under UNCLOS also, that's Denounce Other Claimant Party in SCS (Spratly Islands).



Very Interesting

2016-04-06 08:16 | Xinhua | Editor: Mo Hong'e


Photo taken on April 5, 2016 shows the lighthouse on Zhubi Reef of Nansha Islands in the South China Sea, south China. China's Ministry of Transport on Tuesday held a completion ceremony for the construction of a lighthouse on Zhubi Reef, marking the start of its operation. (Photo: Xinhua/Xing Guangli)

China's Ministry of Transport on Tuesday held a completion ceremony for the construction of a lighthouse on Zhubi Reef, marking the start of its operation.

Construction of the Zhubi Lighthouse was initiated in October 2015. The 55-meter-high lighthouse, with a lantern of 4.5 meters in diameter on the top and rotating lights inside, is monitored through a Beidou remote control terminal.

The lighthouse emits white light in the night time, with a light range of 22 nautical miles and a glowing cycle of five seconds. The automatic identification system (AIS) and very high frequency (VHF) stations inside the lighthouse can provide efficient navigation services such as positioning reference, route guidance and navigation safety information to ships, which can improve navigation management and emergency response.

The South China Sea is a critical maritime corridor linking the Pacific and Indian oceans, as well as a major fishing ground.

However, high traffic density, complex navigation condition, severe shortage in aids and response forces have combined to threaten navigation safety and hindered economic and social development in the region.

To improve maritime emergency response in the area, China's Ministry of Transport started construction of large multi-functional lighthouses last year.

The Huayang, Chigua and Zhubi lighthouses help China better perform international responsibilities and obligations in maritime search and rescue, prevention and elimination of natural disasters, marine environmental protection and navigation safety, according to the ministry.