Reuters: China reef work could lead to new air exclusion zone: U.S. commander
(Reuters) - China could eventually deploy radar and missile systems on outposts it is building in the South China Sea that could be used to enforce an exclusion zone over the disputed territory, the U.S. military commander for Asia said on Wednesday.
Admiral Samuel Locklear, speaking at a congressional hearing in Washington, described as "aggressive" the land reclamation and construction projects China has been conducting at eight military outposts in the South China Sea.
The work involved "fairly massive" reclamation in the Spratley archipelago and upgrades to facilities in the Paracel Islands, he said.
Update: Locklear: China could use reclaimed islands to deploy missiles, radar -- Stars and Stripes/AP
WNU Editor: I concur with Admiral Samuel Locklear's analysis on what is China's strategy in the South China Sea. They are not building these posts for nothing .... they are establishing them to assert territorial and resource claims in the region and declaring a new air exclusion zone will be their opening salvo. My prediction .... no one is going to accept this new zone, and as a result China will have to enforce its claim or risk losing face ... and knowing the Chinese .... losing face is not acceptable.
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