The newly built runway will become China's unsinkable aircraft carrier

[beijingwalker]

An overview of Yongxing Island clearly showing the extent of the runway, which will be available to People's Liberation Army aircraft. Photo: SCMP Pictures

China has released the first high-resolution photographs of a newly built runway on a disputed island in the South China Sea.

"The newly built runway will become China's unsinkable aircraft carrier because it will provide an ideal take-off and landing base for the People's Liberation Army naval air force," said Shanghai-based military expert Ni Lexiong ."

CHINESE NAVY EXERCISE

 

[SledgeHammer]

Surely it is unsinkable, but is it unbombable??

 

[thesolar65]

Surely it is unsinkable, but is it unbombable??

Unbombable?? Now where the dictionary?....

 

[Jf Thunder]

so will u make Air bases around it?

 

[TheNoob]

Surely it is unsinkable, but is it unbombable??

It depands on the defenses now.

 

[danger007]

so unsinkable and immovable. .

 

[Aepsilons]

An overview of Yongxing Island clearly showing the extent of the runway, which will be available to People's Liberation Army aircraft. Photo: SCMP Pictures

China has released the first high-resolution photographs of a newly built runway on a disputed island in the South China Sea.

"The newly built runway will become China's unsinkable aircraft carrier because it will provide an ideal take-off and landing base for the People's Liberation Army naval air force," said Shanghai-based military expert Ni Lexiong ."

View attachment 124097

CHINESE NAVY EXERCISE

How many people live in Yongxing Island ?

 

[SledgeHammer]

Unbombable?? Now where the dictionary?....

Language is to convey a message, and it keeps evolving, don't let the spell-checker restrict your ingenuity.....

How many people live in Yongxing Island ?

Are you already estimating the losses??

 

[beijingwalker]

Who can bomb it?

 

[Aepsilons]

Language is to convey a message, and it keeps evolving, don't let the spell-checker restrict your ingenuity.....



Are you already estimating the losses??

I think there may be several dozen fisherfolk families there. Perhaps a company (or two) of PLA, or PLAN Marines living in the island. As for air defense , air patrol presence, perhaps a squadron or so, nothing more. This island serves as a command and control nexus for them, but it cannot handle any more troop presence due to its size. Due to its size, it cannot be used as a launching pad for an invasion to any country in Southeast Asia; it would simply be noticed via reconnaissance platforms. And would be susceptible to a preliminary surgical airstrike.

I don't think they PLA Military Command would be as so unwise to use this island as a launching pad. It serves as a reconnaissance nexus for them.

 

[beijingwalker]

I think there may be several dozen fisherfolk families there. Perhaps a company of PLA, or PLAN Marines living in the island. As for air defense , air patrol presence, perhaps a squadron or so, nothing more. This island serves as a command and control nexus for them, but it cannot handle any more troop presence due to its size. Due to its size, it cannot be used as a launching pad for an invasion to any country in Southeast Asia; it would simply be noticed via reconnaissance platforms. And would be susceptible to a preliminary surgical airstrike.

I don't think they PLA Military Command would be as so unwise to use this island as a launching pad. It serves as a reconnaissance nexus for them.

Who has the ability to do that surgical airstrike except for China herself in this region?

 

[Aepsilons]

Who has the ability to do that surgical airstrike except for China herself in this region?

I believe there are many air powers in Southeast Asia with very capable air force projective power. I would also mention that there is even a super power lurking about.

Now, I'm not saying that an airstrike would be done soon or it would be opportune for the region. Nay, it would be anti-thetical to a fortuitous relationship between ASEAN and China. And thus it would be counter-productive for the region.

I am merely saying that given the island's close proximity to several Southeast Asian nations', an air strike would be...well within the capabilities of said states.

 

[SQ8]

The Island may be currently a recce outpost and may in the future serve as a staging point. But I doubt that it has the space(or the size) to become a full fledged base whilst still being able to defend itself. It would be premature to say that it might become the Chinese equivalent of Diego Garcia

 

[beijingwalker]

Vietnam? the Philippines ,they barely have an airforce let alone decent missile capabilities, if they are that stupid enough to attack Chinese territories, China would bomb them back to stone age within hours. What superpower do you suggest? US? first, US has a rather neutral position on this and it will not spill their blood for Vietnam, that's exactly what happened in 1974 when PLA took over Paracels from then US ally,the South Vietnam.

 

[Indischer]

Very Maldivian in it's topography. Doesn't look like it'll survive global warming.