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China and Philippines: The reasons why a battle for Zhongye (Pag-asa) Island seems unavoidable
[China Daily Mail] Following the report of China's plans to occupy Zhongye (Pag-asa) Island (Chinese troops to seize Zhongye Island back from the Philippines in 2014), the author, Chan Kai Yee, gives his reasons why it will likely occur.Other reasons include the likelihood the Champ will do nothing. Zhongye (Pag-asa) Island, the second largest in the South China Sea's Spratly Islands, has an area of 0.33 square km, and is of great strategic significance for China if it wants to control a vast part of the South China Sea that it claims to be its As the Island is located roughly in the middle of the area, if China builds an air force and naval base there, it will more easily control the sky and sea in the claimed area. At 0.33 sq. km., it's going to be a small base... Taiping Island, the largest island there with a larger area, is a better choice. As it is controlled by Taiwan and there has so far been no prospects yet of reunification between mainland China and Taiwan, seizing Zhongye Island from the Philippines is China's top priority in the South China Sea. Two birds, one stone. The world's largest aircraft carrier, the Ford costs $12.8 billion to build but has only a deck area of 0.026 square km. An air base established on Zhongye Island will be a dozen times larger and cost much less, but it is unsinkable and has a very long service life. Rep. Hank 'Guam' Johnson, a Georgia Democrat thinks otherwise. The Ford also, um, moves around... The Philippines might have benefited greatly if the US had built an air base there to facilitate the US pivot to Asia and to counter China, but it is a pity that the Philippines drove the US away long ago. Actions, they have consequences. Posted by: Besoeker 2014-01-14 |
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