China again lands planes on disputed island in South China Sea: Xinhua

[Chinese-Dragon]

USA says: China is not allowed to build anymore islands in the SCS!

China says:

 

[TaiShang]

USA says: China is not allowed to build anymore islands in the SCS!

China says:

I feel US regime used its flying and sailing cards way too early and quickly. So, what is their response to this latest move by China? And to the upcoming many moves by China?

In diplomacy, prudence and long-thinking is important. But, if foreign policy is taken hostage by some cold war relics and lunatics, then, it gets inconclusive and erratic.

 

[Kyle Sun]

deploy our fighters asap.

 

[Dungeness]

Chinese government should invite those old PLA soldiers who guarded this rock all those years, back to the island, and honor them. Without their sacrifice, there would be no airport.

A Grateful Nation: China is inviting those who served on those reefs back to visit the islands with their families. Salute!

 

[siegecrossbow]

China again lands planes on disputed island in South China Sea: Xinhua
3 hours ago

BEIJING (Reuters) - China on Wednesday landed two test flights on an island it has built in the South China Sea, four days after it angered Vietnam with a landing on the same runway in the disputed territory, the Xinhua state news agency said.
The two flights are likely to spark further condemnation from Vietnam, which launched a formal diplomatic protest over the weekend, and the Philippines, which said it was planning to do the same.

Both countries have claims to the area that overlap with that of China, which claims almost the whole of the South China Sea.

Xinhua said the two planes landed on an artificial island in the Spratly Islands on Wednesday morning.

"The successful test flights proved that the airport has the capacity to ensure the safe operation of large civilian aircraft," Xinhua said, adding that the airport would facilitate the transport of supplies, personnel and medical aid.

Xinhua did not give any more detail about what type of aircraft had landed.

The runway at the Fiery Cross Reef is 3,000 meters (10,000 feet) long and is one of three China has been building for more than a year by dredging sand up onto reefs and atolls in the Spratly archipelago.

On Saturday, China landed a civilian plane on the same runway in the Spratlys in its first test, which was also the first time it had used a runway in the area.

The United States has criticized China's construction of the islands and worries that it plans to use them for military purposes, even though China says it has no hostile intent.

The United States said after the first landing it was concerned that the flight had exacerbated tension.

The runways would be long enough to handle long-range bombers and transport aircraft as well as China's best jet fighters, giving it a presence deep in the maritime heart of Southeast Asia that it has lacked until now.

More than $5 trillion of world trade is shipped through the South China Sea every year. Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei, the Philippines and Taiwan have rival claims.

China again lands planes on disputed island in South China Sea: Xinhua - Yahoo NewsChina again lands planes on disputed island in South China Sea: Xinhua - Yahoo News

Might land fighters next time.

 

[21stCentury]

It's an expected and normal situation. I mean what would be the point of building airstrips if you're not even going to test it out ?

It shouldn't even come to a surprise to anyone. Soon we should be expecting landings of fighter jets on the airstrips as well. It's normal procedure.

 

[dichoi]

Foreign experts criticise China’s actions in East Sea
VNA THURSDAY, JANUARY 14, 2016

Hanoi (VNA) – China’s recent test landing of planes on an airstrip illegally built on the Chu Thap (Fiery Cross) Reef in Vietnam’s Truong Sa (Spratly) archipelago has sparked concerns in the region, and around the world.

Many countries have officially raised their voices against China’s action, while scholars also expressed their viewpoints on whether to take the East Sea dispute to an international court.

Theresa Fallon, a senior associate at the European Institute of Asian Studies (EIAS), said China’s action has escalated tensions in the East Sea, which is considered one of the world’s “hottest disputed areas”.

China’s putting the runway into service directly relates to coastal countries, including Vietnam and the Philippines, she said.

According to the expert, by using civilian planes, China is trying to persuade the world that the reclaimed islands are being built for civil purposes.

Fallon, however, also noted her doubts about China’s intentions when Beijing increased its management of take-off and landing procedures on the Chu Thap Reef via radio operators.

She forecast that Beijing would continue to reclaim islands in the East Sea, improve its communication system, set up long-range radars and build houses for Chinese staff there.

China may also deploy navy destroyers and military planes on these islands once aeroplane hangars and fuel storage centres have been completed.

Fallon called on regional countries to help attract the wider attention of the international community and promote international law enforcement, in order to curb China’s actions.

She also suggested the European Union send observers to the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) to assist the settlement of disputes in the East Sea.

Eric David, Director of the Centre of International Law under the Free University of Brussels, described China’s construction of the airstrip on the Fiery Cross Reef as an act to claim its sovereignty.

Therefore, concerned nations should send diplomatic notes to oppose China and affirm that China has no right to build runways on the islands unilaterally assumed by China to belong to the country, he said.

He also suggested the countries ask China to address sovereignty-related issues by legal measures.

On January 2 and 6, China conducted test flights on an airstrip illegally built on the Chu Thap Reef in Vietnam’s Truong Sa (Spratly) archipelago.

Responding to this act, Vietnamese Foreign Minister Spokesperson Le Hai Binh said the act seriously violates Vietnam’s sovereignty over Truong Sa archipelago and runs counter to the common perception reached by the two countries’ high-ranking leaders, the agreement on basic principles guiding the settlement of Vietnam – China issues at sea, and the spirit of the 2002 Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea.

It has undermined peace and stability in the East Sea, eroded bilateral political trust and negatively impacted the neighbourliness and good sentiment between the two peoples, he added.

Vietnam resolutely protests against China’s pilot flights and asks the country to immediately end, and not repeat such an action, and take practical and specific steps towards maintaining peace, stability, security, and maritime and aviation safety and freedom in the East Sea, Binh said.-VNA

 

[Keel]

Foreign experts criticise China’s actions in East Sea
VNA THURSDAY, JANUARY 14, 2016

Hanoi (VNA) – China’s recent test landing of planes on an airstrip illegally built on the Chu Thap (Fiery Cross) Reef in Vietnam’s Truong Sa (Spratly) archipelago has sparked concerns in the region, and around the world.

Many countries have officially raised their voices against China’s action, while scholars also expressed their viewpoints on whether to take the East Sea dispute to an international court.

Theresa Fallon, a senior associate at the European Institute of Asian Studies (EIAS), said China’s action has escalated tensions in the East Sea, which is considered one of the world’s “hottest disputed areas”.

China’s putting the runway into service directly relates to coastal countries, including Vietnam and the Philippines, she said.

According to the expert, by using civilian planes, China is trying to persuade the world that the reclaimed islands are being built for civil purposes.

Fallon, however, also noted her doubts about China’s intentions when Beijing increased its management of take-off and landing procedures on the Chu Thap Reef via radio operators.

She forecast that Beijing would continue to reclaim islands in the East Sea, improve its communication system, set up long-range radars and build houses for Chinese staff there.

China may also deploy navy destroyers and military planes on these islands once aeroplane hangars and fuel storage centres have been completed.

Fallon called on regional countries to help attract the wider attention of the international community and promote international law enforcement, in order to curb China’s actions.

She also suggested the European Union send observers to the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) to assist the settlement of disputes in the East Sea.

Eric David, Director of the Centre of International Law under the Free University of Brussels, described China’s construction of the airstrip on the Fiery Cross Reef as an act to claim its sovereignty.

Therefore, concerned nations should send diplomatic notes to oppose China and affirm that China has no right to build runways on the islands unilaterally assumed by China to belong to the country, he said.

He also suggested the countries ask China to address sovereignty-related issues by legal measures.

On January 2 and 6, China conducted test flights on an airstrip illegally built on the Chu Thap Reef in Vietnam’s Truong Sa (Spratly) archipelago.

Responding to this act, Vietnamese Foreign Minister Spokesperson Le Hai Binh said the act seriously violates Vietnam’s sovereignty over Truong Sa archipelago and runs counter to the common perception reached by the two countries’ high-ranking leaders, the agreement on basic principles guiding the settlement of Vietnam – China issues at sea, and the spirit of the 2002 Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea.

It has undermined peace and stability in the East Sea, eroded bilateral political trust and negatively impacted the neighbourliness and good sentiment between the two peoples, he added.

Vietnam resolutely protests against China’s pilot flights and asks the country to immediately end, and not repeat such an action, and take practical and specific steps towards maintaining peace, stability, security, and maritime and aviation safety and freedom in the East Sea, Binh said.-VNA

They cannot blame us for being a lot more capable in building infrastructures there in our own territory especially when communist vietnam is the largest occupier of outlying reefs. shoals there and viet communists are also operating one of the largest number of oil wells. We only have "981" and probably another one drilling for oil in the area

.

 

[S10]

Funny thing is Vietnam and Philippines both attempted to enlarge their infrastructure and land mass on the reefs in South China Sea. They just got left in the dust and now they're crying about it.

 

[CAPRICORN-88]

In a fight between elephants,only the ants gets trampled

Both Philippines and Vietnam are NO elephants.

During WW2, Japan captured all these islands. The same goes for Hawaii. It was not because of their resources but because of their strategic locations.

USA would simply love to own and occupy them like Gracia Diego but could not find a legitimate excuse to do so hence they make use of willing proxies.

IMHO China is reasserting control on these islands not because of its resources (Deng Xiao-Peng once mocked the West by asking them why the so-called resources and oil on this resources rich Spratly Island were?) but because of their strategic location hence if any of these proxies dare to intrude on them, the consequences will be dire.

 

[Jlaw]

the government of vietnam needn´t my advice. when we build houses, they will last for 100 years. at least.
while chinese built houses, how long they will last: max 20 years as some reports how? cheap quality does not last long, you know. a typhoon will wash all of them away. I pity the poor souls.

Vietnamese houses can withstand typhoon? Why not sell this tech to America. Florida residents can use Vietnamese houses

More airports in SCS are coming up. The ”World" will have to get used to it, or get pissed.

The definition is what is meant by the "world" in this case? Vietnam and Philippines do not represent the world.

 

[Dungeness]

Funny thing is Vietnam and Philippines both attempted to enlarge their infrastructure and land mass on the reefs in South China Sea. They just got left in the dust and now they're crying about it.

All they have been using is their tiny "tools". When they see their neighbor joining the party with much bigger and longer "tools", they cry foul. Their frustration and anger are understandable. It is not their fault to have a small ones, and we should be more sympathetic, and wish them good luck.