Do you want to see what China has in the South China Sea? Take a look at some of the pictures taken by the photographer.
They show airfields, radar installations, and military aircraft and warships in the vicinity of the Chinese coast. Beijing has built up its military capabilities with both natural and artificial islands.
The function of those islands is to expand the offensive capability of the PRC beyond their continental shores.
Chinese forces can fly fighters, bombers, and all those offensive capabilities of missile systems from those bases, according to Aquilino.
China built an artificial island large enough to accommodate military installations on Subi Reef, which it claimed in 1988.
There is a double runway, hangars, and multi-story buildings visible.
The Chinese type 022 Houbei-class fast attack boats are armed with YJ 83 anti-ship missiles.
There is a land-based missile cover on the shore. Tom Shugart is a naval expert at the Center for a New American Security.
Observers found gun emplacements on Cuarteron Reef. The weapons stations are shown in greater detail in one of Acayan's photographs.
76mm naval guns can be seen on the lower two levels of a tiered tower. A large dome likely housing some kind of radar is above the guns and what could be a gun director.
There is a Chinese early warning plane on the runway. China's equivalent to the US's C-130 Hercules is the KJ500.
The runways are long enough to hold larger aircraft, while the hangars are large enough to hold H6 bombers.
Some of China's very long-range air-to-air missiles are aided by the KJ500.
The waters and facilities of the island are shown in this photo.
The Associated Press reported in March that more than 40 vessels of different types appeared to be anchored near the island.
The sports field, which appears to include a running track and an athletic field, is what is striking about this photo.
It suggests that there is a Chinese presence that needs recreational facilities.
The size of the field, which is marked and appears to have light poles, shows that the garrison is large enough to justify such an amenities.
China has a strategic interest in the islands. They allow Beijing to show air and naval power hundreds of miles away from the mainland. China can position forces closer to important areas, such as the chokepoints between the Indian and Pacific oceans.
China is willing to use force to keep control of the Spratlys, which are close to Vietnam, the Philippines, and Malaysia. The Johnson South Reef was taken over by the Chinese in the late 80's.
The US isn't the only country worried about the Chinese bases. Vietnam, Taiwan, the Philippines, and Malaysia have all made claims in the South China Sea. The expansion of Vietnam's outposts in the Spratlys was accelerated in late 2022.
The value of these bases shouldn't be underestimated. They are vulnerable to bombardment, blockade, or invasion in time of war because of their small size, flat and open terrain. They remind us of China's reach into one of the world's most important waterways.
His work has been published in Forbes, Defense News, Foreign Policy magazine, and other publications. He has a masters degree in political science. You can follow him on social networking sites.
All Rights Reserved © 2024
