Wth is China really up to here?

its a really busy waterway for resource logistics. China wants a physical and "permanent" presence in that area. No bueno.

They want claims to mineral and fishing rights and to be able to use these islands as staging areas for a hypothetical invasion of Taiwan.

Of all the things going on in the world right now, China building islands so close to Japan should be the most concerning for our national security and interest.

What they are doing could very well lead to a huge confrontation or us rolling over and letting them own the South Pacific

In 1974 the Chinese seized the Paracels from Vietnam, killing more than 70 Vietnamese troops.


In 1988 the two sides clashed in the Spratlys, with Vietnam again coming off worse, losing about 60 sailors.


In early 2012, China and the Philippines engaged in a lengthy maritime stand-off, accusing each other of intrusions in the Scarborough Shoal.


In July 2012 China angered Vietnam and the Philippines when it formally created Sansha city, an administrative body with its headquarters in the Paracels which it says oversees Chinese territory in the South China Sea.
Unverified claims that the Chinese navy sabotaged two Vietnamese exploration operations in late 2012 led to large anti-China protests on Vietnam's streets.


In January 2013, Manila said it was taking China to a UN tribunal under the auspices of the UN Convention on the Laws of the Sea, to challenge its claims.


In May 2014, the introduction by China of a drilling rig into waters near the Paracel Islands led to multiple collisions between Vietnamese and Chinese ships.


In April 2015, satellite images showed China building an airstrip on reclaimed land in the Spratlys.


In October 2015, the US sailed a guided-missile destroyer within 12-nautical miles of the artificial islands - the first in a series of actions planned to assert freedom of navigation in the region. China warned that the US should "not act blindly or make trouble out of nothing".

Honestly, I think Philippines should be a state (if their people voted in favor for it). This half in/ half out bullshite is what led to modern day Cuba. We are not an empire with vassals. either give our territories full rights and responsibilities or let them find their own way.

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I think Philippines should be a state

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Man, Puerto Rico is gonna be pissed.

I have family in Puerto Rico and from what I gather, I believe they lack the gall to set the precedent. If some other territory (looking at you US Virgin Islands) got the ball rolling Puerto Rico would join in. You see they have a pretty sweet set up right now and no reason to change that. If given the ultimatum between statehood or independence ( and having to be entirely self-sufficient) statehood would win 19.75 times out of 20

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Honestly, I think Philippines should be a state (if their people voted in favor for it).

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Then they would have to ban prostitution and restrict abortions. That would destroy their main revenue streams outside of fishing.

If Obama attacks China over some fricking man made islands but let's ISIS roll all over American citizens I will personally kill that man myself

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What they are doing could very well lead to a huge confrontation or us rolling over and letting them own the South Pacific

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If I was a betting man....