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

Blackstone

Brigadier
The reverse can be said as well, that PRC isn't buying the idea that US enforcement of freedom of navigation is unrelated to its military surveillance of strategically important military facilities.
Let's put out a hypothetical question here -- do we think China would be pressing its claims or seeking to enforce them in such a great urgency if there was not such consistent US surveillance aircraft and ships near China's important facilities?

Let me pre empt a response, by first saying that yes, China has also on occasion sailed and flown similar surveillance flights, and it is within the rights of the US to use whatever legal means to achieve its aims -- even if this includes forward positioning and conducting intensive and comprehensive reconnaissance of a potential foe's strategic military facilities such as nuclear submarine bases.

However China also has the right to use means to try and pre empt it in whatever means within the flexible bounds of international law.

What I do not find reasonable however, is when one side tries to use freedom of navigation as a lead in for conducting these kind of surveillance actions. If the US straight up said "we desire to have overwhemling ISR for our forward based air and naval assets against our strategic competitors" -- that I can accept. I don't even need the US govt to acknowledge it, but it would be nice if we on an online forum that talks candidly about military matters can straight up describe each other's intentions.
I absolutely support US assertion no nation may regulate foreign military operations in its EEZ, outside 12 mile limit. Having said that, I think US should ease up on aggressive surveillance up and down China's coast that does more harm than good. I hope to see both sides compromise and US back off aggressive patrolling, while China looks to its long-term interest and embrace EEZ patrolling that will serve it in future decades when PLAN has patrols off other shores.

Of course, but what makes anyone think China would seek to close down maritime trade in that area when China is so dependent on maritime trade itself?
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I don't believe China wishes to shutdown maritime trade, since being the largest trading nation in the world, it will suffer more than anyone else. I was responding another poster.
 

I wonder

New Member
Registered Member
Interesting interview with Australian analyst Hugh White on US idea for basing B1 bombers in Australia to counter China's South China Sea intentions.
Australia does not want to choose between its biggest trading partner China and its Security partner, the United States but its becoming harder to not make that choice and the shrill Aus response to the B1 proposal is evidence of that.
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joshuatree

Captain
Pics from the CCG thread. However, I think when some of those new SCS bases come online, they should really home port these smaller CG vessels instead for routine daily patrols. Less "ominous", better fit to cope with meeting/greeting other smaller vessels, and less resource requirement needed at the base which in itself relies on external supplies. Maybe a modified 2208 platform along the lines of the Armidale class?

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Jeff Head

General
Registered Member
Guys, this is the PLAN South China Sea Fleet and Base thread...NOT the world maritime pecking order thread, or a thread in place so people can throw daggers at other nations...including the US.

Those posts and responses to them have been deleted. Any more will generate warnings...then suspensions.

Get Back on Topic.

DO NOT RESPOND TO THIS MODERATION


WalkingTall3.jpg
 

jkliz

Junior Member
Registered Member
So I found these documentaries to be a pretty good description of what the reefs were before their reclamation as well as a general overview of the Chinese Islands in the SCS. Plus, it gives some really cool backstories to each reef.
 

Jeff Head

General
Registered Member
So I found these documentaries to be a pretty good description of what the reefs were before their reclamation as well as a general overview of the Chinese Islands in the SCS. Plus, it gives some really cool backstories to each reef.
jkliz...that is a good video...but it is really more about Chinese islands and this is the non-Chinese SCS strategy-page.

Good source material (so I will leave it here)...but it is really better suited for the Chinese South China Sea Strategy Thread, or the Chinese South China Sea Base and Island Thread.
 

jkliz

Junior Member
Registered Member
From this angle it looks like one of those small island hotels like those in the Maldives haha
 
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