The Vietnamese received some disquieting news ahead of their Lunar New Year celebrations this year. On February 15, four days shy of the Lunar New Year, satellite analysis published by IHS Jane's Defense Weekly showed China’s infamous reclamation work is well advanced on several reefs in the Spratly Islands in the East Sea, the Vietnamese term for the South China Sea. According to the satellite photographs, a new installation is being built on Hughes Reef. Reuters quoted the satellite analysis as describing a "large facility" having been constructed on 75,000 square meters of sand reclaimed since August. It also published images of Fiery Cross Reef, which now includes a reclaimed island more than 3 km (1.8 miles) long that experts said would likely become a runway, according to Reuters. Work is also well established on Gaven, Cuarteron and Eldad Reefs, with the new dredging taking place on Mischief Reef. China routinely outlines the scope of its territorial claims through … [Read more...] about Business as usual: China cranks up construction of artificial islands in East Sea
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Business as usual: China cranks up construction of artificial lands in East Sea
The Vietnamese received some disquieting news ahead of their Lunar New Year celebrations this year. On February 15, four days shy of the Lunar New Year, satellite analysis published by IHS Jane's Defense Weekly showed China’s infamous reclamation work is well advanced on several reefs in the Spratly Islands in the East Sea, the Vietnamese term for the South China Sea. According to the satellite photographs, a new installation is being built on Hughes Reef. Reuters quoted the satellite analysis as describing a "large facility" having been constructed on 75,000 square meters of sand reclaimed since August. It also published images of Fiery Cross Reef, which now includes a reclaimed island more than 3 km (1.8 miles) long that experts said would likely become a runway, according to Reuters. Work is also well established on Gaven, Cuarteron and Eldad Reefs, with the new dredging taking place on Mischief Reef. China routinely outlines the scope of its territorial claims through … [Read more...] about Business as usual: China cranks up construction of artificial lands in East Sea
China sends giant fleet to East Sea, endangering fish stocks
China has sent one of its largest fishing fleets on record to the disputed Spratly (Truong Sa) Islands, AFP quoted Chinese media on Tuesday, amid tensions over Beijing's increasingly aggressive claims over the entire East Sea. Analysts say by doing so, China is sending a message that it will continue to exploit fishing resources in the East Sea, internationally known as the South China Sea. "It is a way of asserting jurisdiction over the area," said Mark Valencia, a Hawaii-based expert on the dispute. A flotilla including 30 fishing vessels and two large transport and supply ships left China's southern province of Hainan Monday for a 40-day trip to the Spratlys, AFP quoted a China Daily report as saying. Chinese fishing boats regularly travel to the Spratlys - an archipelago claimed in whole or in part by China, Vietnam, the Philippines, Taiwan, Malaysia and Brunei - but the fleet dispatched Monday matches China's biggest ever infiltration of the Spratlys. China will make … [Read more...] about China sends giant fleet to East Sea, endangering fish stocks
China’s East Sea claim
, VietNamNet Bridge - For months, concern has been growing over China's aggressiveness in claiming a major portion of the East Sea as its own lake, most recently through the deployment of a flotilla of some of its most modern warships into the Spratly archipelago on a three-week military exercise. East Sea dispute must be resolved by multinational forum No nation benefits if the East Sea is turbulent China's claim to 80 percent of East Sea unacceptable East Sea: US 'doesn't take sides'; China against 'expansionism and hegemonism' … [Read more...] about China’s East Sea claim
Why the East Sea became the South China Sea?
The follow-up article by researcher Nguyen Dinh Dau explains why the East Sea, from the name Giao Chi (Jiaozhi) Sea in the 14th century, was mistakenly noted by Western people as the South China Sea. From the Giao Chi sea to the U-shape line The East Sea disputes The world map (continents) as drawn by Henricus Matellus Germanus in 1498 In the article "From the East Sea to the U-shape Line", researcher Nguyen Dinh Dau clarified that in ancient maps of Chinese people; the East Sea was named Giao Chi Sea, Great East Sea or Southeastern Sea. From this aspect, a question emerges. Why the Giao Chi Sea (14th century) was mistakenly called by Western people as the South China Sea as today? We would like to introduce the follow-up article by researcher Nguyen Dinh Dau to answer this question. From the utmost antiquity to the 14th century, ancient people thought that the globe had only three continents: Europe, Asia and Africa. Perhaps the pioneer for this is Greek geographer Ptolemeo … [Read more...] about Why the East Sea became the South China Sea?