South China Sea Control

[Prince Kassad]

There is a lot of discussion about Chinese occupation of islands or artificial islands in the South China Sea. Many complain about Beijing taking control of these areas by way of island chains with military presence.

Why do all the disputing nations of the “nine dash line” not simply make a series of their own islands in the sea? Why can’t Taiwan or Japan or Vietnam, or any others simply make their own islands next to the reefs China poured cement on and claim them as well?

 

[Prince Kassad]

anyone?

 

[Figaro]

There is a lot of discussion about Chinese occupation of islands or artificial islands in the South China Sea. Many complain about Beijing taking control of these areas by way of island chains with military presence.

Why do all the disputing nations of the “nine dash line” not simply make a series of their own islands in the sea? Why can’t Taiwan or Japan or Vietnam, or any others simply make their own islands next to the reefs China poured cement on and claim them as well?

Because making islands is much more difficult than you think. It is a huge undertaking, both in time and money to do what China has done (just look at the pictures to see how much dredging was done). Other countries simply do not have China's money, or frankly the ability to perform such infrastructure construction on this scale (not China is by far the number one country in terms of infrastructural development). Plus doing this would probably increase tensions around the SCS and give China just another excuse to fortify the islands and militarize the SCS even more.