China and Philippines: The reasons why a battle for Zhongye (Pag-asa) Island seems unavoidable

[Valin]

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.

chan kai yee2 ⋅

January 13, 2014

 

Map of the location of the island in the South China Sea

 

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 territorial waters.

 

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.

 

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.

 

 

(Snip)

 

H/T The Feed

[nickydog]

China can't claim all that water!

[WestVirginiaRebel]

Some more here. The Pacific seems to be on track for becoming the Balkans of the 21st Century-one hundred years after WW1 started because Franz Ferdinand took a wrong turn.

 

[WestVirginiaRebel]

China can't claim all that water!

Obama will hold it for them...

[Valin]

China can't claim all that water!

 

You tell them that.

Of course Japan South Korea Taiwan Vietnam India Australia Indonesia might have a thing or two to say about it.

 

What is going on is after 400 years(?) China is looking outward.

[Valin]

Some more here. The Pacific seems to be on track for becoming the Balkans of the 21st Century-one hundred years after WW1 started because Franz Ferdinand took a wrong turn.

 

Infowars? Are the Chinese working with Space aliens or the Illuminati?

[Valin]

Xinhua: China Warns Japan Against Provocation in Sea and Air Disputes