China's SCS Strategy Thread

sndef888

Senior Member
Registered Member
Does anyone else think China should continue reclaiming Fiery Cross Reef? Its has the most strategic position in the Spratlys, relatively far away from reefs controlled by other countries, located right in the middle of the SCS beside shipping lanes, and most importantly has the most potential for future reclamation.

Look at the satellite image of the reef. The eastern part, if reclaimed would be over 30 km squared, larger than Macau. And that's not including the unreclaimed western parts and the small tracts connecting the two.

It could be turned into an actual city with up to a few hundred thousand inhabitants like Maldives instead of just a military outpost, solidifying China's position in the area greatly.

ToRpHEg.jpg
 

ansy1968

Brigadier
Registered Member
Does anyone else think China should continue reclaiming Fiery Cross Reef? Its has the most strategic position in the Spratlys, relatively far away from reefs controlled by other countries, located right in the middle of the SCS beside shipping lanes, and most importantly has the most potential for future reclamation.

Look at the satellite image of the reef. The eastern part, if reclaimed would be over 30 km squared, larger than Macau. And that's not including the unreclaimed western parts and the small tracts connecting the two.

It could be turned into an actual city with up to a few hundred thousand inhabitants like Maldives instead of just a military outpost, solidifying China's position in the area greatly.

ToRpHEg.jpg
hi sndef888

good day.

From my perspective A BIG NO, it will create a big REGIONAL BACKLASH that will erased all the gains it had diplomatically from the last 4 years. And also what military advantages does it do, all island is within range from HAINAN.
 

caohailiang

Junior Member
Registered Member
hi sndef888

good day.

From my perspective A BIG NO, it will create a big REGIONAL BACKLASH that will erased all the gains it had diplomatically from the last 4 years. And also what military advantages does it do, all island is within range from HAINAN.
exactly, that is called "quit while your are ahead"
 

KYli

Brigadier
If Trump believed by stirring a confrontation in SCS would help his election, then I might have overestimated his competence. Even if its aim is just a distraction, it wouldn't help his election much.
 

Dante80

Junior Member
Registered Member
This policy shift is mainly symbolic. It was also pretty much inevitable, given China's response to the 2016 international decision concerning the nine dash line.

From a real politik point of view, the US would have to either remove its influence from the region - and losing its allies in the process to pressure from Beijing - or step up, sooner or later. I don't think anyone following US policy during the last decades would gamble on the former happening rather than the latter.

Does this means anything concrete as far as the region is concerned? Not really. Or at least...not in absolution.
 
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