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    China build artificial islands in South China Sea

    medo
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    Post  medo Thu Jul 02, 2015 8:00 pm

    China build artificial islands in South China Sea - Page 3 Subi_210

    Picture of Subi island from June 30th. The island will be soon filled, so I hope China will soon start building airbase here too.
    medo
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    Post  medo Sat Jul 18, 2015 2:03 pm

    China build artificial islands in South China Sea - Page 3 Fieryc10

    China build artificial islands in South China Sea - Page 3 Shubi_10

    China build artificial islands in South China Sea - Page 3 Subi_211

    New photos from July.

    https://www.facebook.com/ThePLANavy/photos/a.133735983467975.25678.133731936801713/482214718620098/?type=1&theater#!/ThePLANavy?fref=photo

    China will soon base J-11B fighters in Fiery Cross island, when runway is finished. I think they will also soon finish all needed infrastructure for air base operation, like control tower, radar station, ILS complex, fuel storages, ammunition storage, maintenance complex and buildings for personal. J-11B is multirole fighter with similar capabilities as Su-27SM3 with combat radius up to 1500 km. It doesn't have IFR capabilities, but for protection of islands it is not really needed.

    China build artificial islands in South China Sea - Page 3 J-11b_10

    China build artificial islands in South China Sea - Page 3 J-11b_11

    China build artificial islands in South China Sea - Page 3 J-11b-10
    medo
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    Post  medo Sat Jul 18, 2015 3:10 pm

    China build artificial islands in South China Sea - Page 3 2015-011

    Radar picture of Fiery Cross island, runway, taxiway and apron is better seen.
    medo
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    Post  medo Sun Jul 19, 2015 5:20 pm

    China build artificial islands in South China Sea - Page 3 2015-012

    Woody island in Paracels. Enlargement and modernization of airbase will soon be finished. We will see, which planes China will station there. Most probably J-11B or JH-7A or both.
    max steel
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    Post  max steel Sat Aug 08, 2015 7:49 am

    China Seeks Joint Pacific Security Vision With Russia


    Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi met with his Russian counterpart, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, on Wednesday, on the sidelines of the ASEAN Foreign Minister’s Meeting in Kuala Lumpur. According to Xinhua, Wang told Lavrov that “China is willing to strengthen the strategic coordination with Russia on Asia-Pacific affairs to promote a common, cooperative, comprehensive and sustainable Asian security concept and jointly safeguard regional peace, stability and development.” It’s the latest indication that China is seeking to leverage Russia’s growing military presence in the region to advance its own security and defense interests in the Pacific.

    China and Russia already have a history of cooperation in Central Asia, defying predictions that competition over that region will derail their relationship. The two countries function as co-leaders in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, and have even linked together their economic visions for the region (Russia’s Eurasian Economic Union and China’s Silk Road Economic Belt). When it comes to the Pacific Ocean region, however, Russia and China’s joint activities have been slower to develop – but that’s starting to change.

    In part, that’s due to an increased Russia presence in the Pacific, particularly on the military front. In April, U.S. Admiral Samuel Locklear, then the commander of Pacific Command, told the House Armed Services Committee that Russia “has returned to … nearly a Cold War level of activity” in the Pacific. Russia is improving is strategic nuclear deterrent and submarine force on its eastern coast, in the north Pacific, Locklear said, and is “exerting increased influence not only in the Arctic… but also in Northeast Asia.” Russia has also been increasing its military presence in Southeast Asia, Locklear added.

    Japan has also noted increased Russian military activity. In fiscal year 2014, Japan scrambled fighter jets 943 times, a 16 percent increase over FY2013 and the second-highest rate ever. That increase back to Cold War levels was partly due to increased flights by Chinese fighters near the disputed Senkaku/Diaoyu Islands in the East China Sea, but equally due to Russian bombers and patrol planes passing close to Japan’s north. In fact, Chinese aircraft accounted for under half (464) of the scrambles, Japan’s Defense Ministry reported. Scrambles to meet Russian aircraft were up roughly four times from 2004 levels.

    Russia also recently announced that it will build up its military and civilian infrastructure on the Kuril Islands, which Japan claims at the Northern Territories, meaning Japan can expect Russia’s military presence in the north Pacific to continue to grow.

    China, meanwhile, seems to welcome this increased Russian presence. In addition to stepping up joint military exercises, including a planned naval drill to be held in the Sea of Japan later in August, China and Russia held their first-ever meeting specifically dedicated to the topic of Northeast Asian security issues in April. At the meeting, the two countries “agreed to enhance dialogues and coordination to promote peace and stability in the region,” according to Xinhua.

    For China, a more active Russian approach toward the Asia-Pacific provides a useful counterweight to U.S. influence in the region. Beijing also appreciates Moscow’s support on security issues, where the two countries often see eye-to-eye. Russia and China joined voices to object to the deployment of the U.S. missile defense system THAAD on South Korea, for example.

    Still, despite Wang and Lavrov’s remarks about cooperation, China is unlikely to win rhetorical backing from Russia on the issue that will draw the most attention at this year’s ASEAN meetings: the South China Sea disputes. China has come under heavy criticism from Southeast Asian countries, Japan, and the United States for its land reclamation activities. Russia, meanwhile, has refrained from defending China – and has even sold six Kilo­-class submarines to Vietnam, one of the rival claimants.

    It’s precisely this close relationship with Vietnam that has prevented Moscow from giving moral support to Beijing on the disputes. As Anton Tsvetov, media and government relations manager at the Russian International Affairs Council, put it in a recent article for Russia Direct, “Russia’s possible involvement in the South China Sea dispute would have been a no-brainer if another vocal claimant –Vietnam — weren’t also the country’s closest partner in Southeast Asia.” In its attempt to avoid antagonizing either China or Vietnam, Russia has adopted what Tsvetov describes as an almost “non-existent” position on the disputes. As a sign of Russia’s tightrope walk, there are plans for Russia to hold joint naval exercises in the South China Sea next year. with its “Asia-Pacific allies,” which would likely include not only China but Vietnam as well.

    While China would appreciate diplomatic cover from Russia on the South China Sea issue, such support is not forthcoming. Still, Beijing hopes to work with Moscow more productively on Northeast Asian issues. Russia’s support will be crucial as China tries to advance its own security vision for the Asia-Pacific region — a vision where the United States plays a much diminished role.


    http://thediplomat.com/2015/08/china-seeks-joint-pacific-security-vision-with-russia/?utm_content=buffer54265&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_campaign=buffer
    medo
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    Post  medo Sun Aug 16, 2015 10:33 am

    China build artificial islands in South China Sea - Page 3 Mischi11

    China build artificial islands in South China Sea - Page 3 Subi_212

    China build artificial islands in South China Sea - Page 3 Fiery-11

    Newer pictures of three bigger islands.
    magnumcromagnon
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    Post  magnumcromagnon Mon Aug 24, 2015 3:37 am

    Exceptionalistan's sanctimonious hypocrisy rear's it's ugly head...yet again:

    Remember Those Tiny Islands The US Unilaterally Seized Over A Century Ago?
    medo
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    Post  medo Sun Aug 30, 2015 10:34 am

    China build artificial islands in South China Sea - Page 3 2015-010

    China build artificial islands in South China Sea - Page 3 2015-010

    China build artificial islands in South China Sea - Page 3 Cuarte10

    China build artificial islands in South China Sea - Page 3 Cuarte11

    China build artificial islands in South China Sea - Page 3 Yongsh10

    Some new pictures from August.
    medo
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    Post  medo Fri Sep 11, 2015 10:20 pm

    China build artificial islands in South China Sea - Page 3 30uu2d10

    China build artificial islands in South China Sea - Page 3 W7mmpi10

    China build artificial islands in South China Sea - Page 3 I6msfa10

    China build artificial islands in South China Sea - Page 3 35bset10

    China is starting with building of an airstrip in Subi island and a naval port. To the end of the year, China will have two airstrips in Spratleys.
    medo
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    Post  medo Wed Sep 16, 2015 1:56 pm

    China build artificial islands in South China Sea - Page 3 Mischi10

    China build artificial islands in South China Sea - Page 3 Mischi11

    New pictures from Mischief reef.

    China build artificial islands in South China Sea - Page 3 Fiery_10

    China build artificial islands in South China Sea - Page 3 Fiery_11

    New pictures from Fiery Cross, there is intensive building of different objects.
    medo
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    Post  medo Sat Sep 26, 2015 10:47 am

    China build artificial islands in South China Sea - Page 3 Fiery_12

    New photo from Fiery Cross island. Runway is finished, now they build infrastructure. It seems they also put soil and plant grass around runway to prevent sand to go on the runway. I hope to the end of the year China will be able to station first planes there.
    max steel
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    Post  max steel Thu Oct 08, 2015 8:26 pm

    US To Sail Warships Around China's Man-Made Islands In South Pacific
    George1
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    Post  George1 Mon Oct 19, 2015 9:37 pm

    Japan Scrambles Jets Over Disputed E. China Sea Islands in Record Numbers

    Japan, in the midst of a land dispute with China, scrambled fighter jets to prevent possible incursions by Chinese planes a record number of times from July through September, the Defense Ministry said on Monday.

    Japan jets scrambled 117 times, up from 103 in the same three-month period of last year, although it was lower than the all-time high of 164 times recorded in the final quarter of 2014, Reuters reported.

    However, it is unclear why the number of scrambles rose and the ministry did not offer an explanation.

    Japan and China are at odds over ownership of a group of tiny, uninhabited islands in the East China Sea, called the Senkaku in Japan and Diaoyu in China. Patrol ships and fighter jets from the two countries have been shadowing each near the islets, raising fears of a conflict.

    The countries are now working on a communication system aimed at averting misunderstandings between their militaries.

    Ties between Japan and China have long been troubled by their wartime history. But relations have improved slightly in the past year, despite Tokyo's bolder security stance and Beijing's increasing military assertiveness.

    Scrambles against Russian planes fell 43% from a year earlier to 51 times in July-September, helping to bring down the number of Japan's overall scrambles in the three-month period by 12% to 170, Reuters reported.

    Russian bombers and patrol planes often fly close to Japan's northern air space and four smaller islands claimed by both countries.

    Read more: http://sputniknews.com/asia/20151019/1028778501/japan-east-china-sea-jets.html#ixzz3p32Cs8AY
    max steel
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    Post  max steel Wed Oct 21, 2015 1:46 am

    Seems that things starting to unravel faster:

    Rough Sail: Australia won't send ships to patrol South China Sea



    medo
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    Post  medo Sun Oct 25, 2015 1:19 pm

    China build artificial islands in South China Sea - Page 3 Subi110

    China build artificial islands in South China Sea - Page 3 Mischi12

    Construction of runways are going on both Subi and Mischief islands.
    medo
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    Post  medo Sun Nov 01, 2015 12:15 pm

    China build artificial islands in South China Sea - Page 3 Mischi13

    Newest picture of Miscief islands, traces of future runway and taxiway could be seen now.

    China build artificial islands in South China Sea - Page 3 Scs_ch10

    China build artificial islands in South China Sea - Page 3 Yongxi10

    Few pictures from Woody Island in Paracels.
    max steel
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    Post  max steel Sun Nov 01, 2015 8:08 pm

    China loses round one in Philippines dispute over islands

    China’s island building lacks strategic logic



    US move in South China Sea pitches Beijing into uncharted waters


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    Post  max steel Thu Nov 12, 2015 11:16 pm

    US Flies B-52 Bomber Near China Islands


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    Post  medo Wed Dec 16, 2015 6:27 pm

    China build artificial islands in South China Sea - Page 3 Mischi10

    Building of air base on Mischief.
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    Post  sepheronx Wed Dec 16, 2015 6:49 pm

    Guess China did learn a thing or two on the Battlefield 1942 map wake island.
    Werewolf
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    Post  Werewolf Wed Dec 16, 2015 9:49 pm

    Why do they build such shaped artificial islands? Do they have a specific purpose due their shape or advantages?
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    Post  GarryB Thu Dec 17, 2015 9:46 am

    The sort of horseshoe shape means the harbour is sheltered from waves in bad weather.

    Ships can sail into the harbour area and be protected from sea waves and moor in a protected area.

    It also means you have a fairly narrow gap to monitor or protect from torpedoes or intruding submarines.
    medo
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    Post  medo Thu Dec 17, 2015 3:37 pm

    Werewolf wrote:Why do they build such shaped artificial islands? Do they have a specific purpose due their shape or advantages?

    They follow the shape of underwater reef on which they build artificial island. Those big islands will host both air base with 3 km long runway and naval base for ships and subs.
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    Post  Werewolf Thu Dec 17, 2015 5:56 pm

    Thanks medo and GarryB.
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    Post  flamming_python Thu Dec 17, 2015 11:11 pm

    I still maintain they just copied the shape from a popular computer game. You know, being geeky Asians and all that..

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