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And so it continues.
News about the Philippines planning to turn some of the disputed islands in the South China Sea into tourist sites ain’t got nothing on China. The super power is continuing the massive reclamation in the disputed islands, to extend its zone of influence.
This is what the US Navy aboard the P-8A Poseidon Multi-Mission Maritime Aircraft witnessed when it flew over the South China Sea on Wednesday, May 20.
Watch the Coconuts TV video on the incident.
That the US used its most advanced surveillance and submarine hunting aircraft ain’t got nothing on them, too. The surveillance flight on Wednesday received eight stern warnings from the rising super power.
CNN happened to be in the flight and of course, reported on the matter.
“’This is the Chinese navy…this is the Chinese navy…please go away…to avoid misunderstanding’,” Jim Sciutto reports the encounter on CNN.com.
“Soon after the Chinese communication was heard, its source appeared on the horizon seemingly out of nowhere: an island by China some 600 miles from its coastline,” continues the CNN report.
In March, Coconuts Manila reported that “China has moved to increase its presence and assert its authority in the waters.” Reclamation works were taking place on all seven reefs that China occupies.
According to the CNN report, China has stretched the islands by 2,000 acres, “equivalent to 1,500 football fields and counting.”
In the three videos that the Navy Office of Information sent to Coconuts, an airport infrastructure seems to already be in place. “Fiert Reef is now home to military barracks as well as a lofty lookout tower.”
Each time the Chinese navy would let out a warning, American pilots would calmly respond by saying it was flying through international airspace, which only frustrated the Chinese more. “Once he responds with exasperation: “This is the Chinese Navy…You go.”
A scary possibility was presented in the report: “Former CIA Depouty Director Michael Morell told CNN’s Erin Burnett Wednesday night that the confrontation indicates there is “absolutely” a risk of the U.S. and China going to war in the future.”
