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> You also get a ~200 mile EEZ for fishing and mineral rights, and a 6-12 mile territorial waters in the area as well. You don't get those for artificial lands

> You also get a ~200 mile EEZ for fishing and mineral rights, and a 6-12 mile territorial waters in the area as well. You don't get those for artificial lands or for insufficiently substantial islands. And an international arbitration under UNCLOS already ruled against Chinese claims in this regard.

Stevvo 4y ago
You're correct, but it's a bit of a moot point because nobody can fish in these areas without being harassed by Chinese military.
- sandworm101 4y ago
  They dont need islands to do that.
  - Georgelemental 4y ago
    Conveniently placed supply bases sure help
- Dalewyn 4y ago
  It's a twisted sense of appreciation, but I appreciate the likes of China and Russia for calling the west's bluffs and proving time and time again that all those nice words written on stacks of paper are just stacks of paper.
  - tim333 4y ago
    Sometimes the words get backed up. Russia is finding ignoring the bits of paper agreeing Ukraines borders is not quite as easy as they thought.
  - AbrahamParangi 4y ago
    Did Russia call the West’s bluff? Because it seems like they’ve found themselves in a war far worse than Vietnam with far worse prospects. If anything I would think that Russia did not expect the degree of support and coordination the US would be willing to provide. Similarly Biden has said that US troops would defend Taiwan in the event of an invasion. I don’t think that’s a bluff. Do you?
  - raspberry1337 4y ago
    The problem for the managerial class is ultimately that all their power comes from the power structure and having other people do as they say and enforce their papers. Ancient greeks were trained as warriors, and would defeat slave uprisings by their very own hands. Todays rulers can't carry their own bag.
    - Dalewyn 4y ago
      "John Marshall has made his decision; now let him enforce it." -Andrew Jackson
arcticbull 4y ago
Well yes, but China claims that their development of the islands makes them sufficiently substantial. They've built airports, military bases, ports and entire developments. Check out the 'before and after' photos. [1] Frankly, I think their claim may just get upheld in due course. To be clear I think it's shameful and an environmental catastrophe, but I've no doubt they will invest as much time and effort as deemed necessary to make these substantial islands. [1] https://www.marketwatch.com/story/chinas-artificial-islands-in-before-and-after-photos-2015-10-27 https://www.marketwatch.com/story/chinas-artificial-islands-...
- deleted 4y ago
  [deleted]
- post-it 4y ago
  > The reef itself was only 7.2 square kilometers; it has been expanded to add another 100,000 square meters. This sounds as though the author doesn't know that 100,000 square metres = 0.1 square kilometres.
  - arcticbull 4y ago
    Agreed, as peer pointed out that's bad journalism. It's also old (a 2016 write-up). I imagine it's evolved a lot since.
- renewiltord 4y ago
  Haha, journalists are really something else > The reef itself was only 7.2 square kilometers; it has been expanded to add another 100,000 square meters. So they took a 7.2 km^2 thing and made it 7.3 km^2? Cool photos by the way. Thank you for sharing link.

Stevvo 4y ago

You're correct, but it's a bit of a moot point because nobody can fish in these areas without being harassed by Chinese military.

sandworm101 4y ago
They dont need islands to do that.
- Georgelemental 4y ago
  Conveniently placed supply bases sure help
Dalewyn 4y ago
It's a twisted sense of appreciation, but I appreciate the likes of China and Russia for calling the west's bluffs and proving time and time again that all those nice words written on stacks of paper are just stacks of paper.
- tim333 4y ago
  Sometimes the words get backed up. Russia is finding ignoring the bits of paper agreeing Ukraines borders is not quite as easy as they thought.
- AbrahamParangi 4y ago
  Did Russia call the West’s bluff? Because it seems like they’ve found themselves in a war far worse than Vietnam with far worse prospects. If anything I would think that Russia did not expect the degree of support and coordination the US would be willing to provide. Similarly Biden has said that US troops would defend Taiwan in the event of an invasion. I don’t think that’s a bluff. Do you?
- raspberry1337 4y ago
  The problem for the managerial class is ultimately that all their power comes from the power structure and having other people do as they say and enforce their papers. Ancient greeks were trained as warriors, and would defeat slave uprisings by their very own hands. Todays rulers can't carry their own bag.
  - Dalewyn 4y ago
    "John Marshall has made his decision; now let him enforce it." -Andrew Jackson

arcticbull 4y ago

Well yes, but China claims that their development of the islands makes them sufficiently substantial. They've built airports, military bases, ports and entire developments. Check out the 'before and after' photos. [1] Frankly, I think their claim may just get upheld in due course. To be clear I think it's shameful and an environmental catastrophe, but I've no doubt they will invest as much time and effort as deemed necessary to make these substantial islands. [1] https://www.marketwatch.com/story/chinas-artificial-islands-in-before-and-after-photos-2015-10-27 https://www.marketwatch.com/story/chinas-artificial-islands-...

deleted 4y ago
[deleted]
post-it 4y ago
> The reef itself was only 7.2 square kilometers; it has been expanded to add another 100,000 square meters. This sounds as though the author doesn't know that 100,000 square metres = 0.1 square kilometres.
- arcticbull 4y ago
  Agreed, as peer pointed out that's bad journalism. It's also old (a 2016 write-up). I imagine it's evolved a lot since.
renewiltord 4y ago
Haha, journalists are really something else > The reef itself was only 7.2 square kilometers; it has been expanded to add another 100,000 square meters. So they took a 7.2 km^2 thing and made it 7.3 km^2? Cool photos by the way. Thank you for sharing link.