China has extensively equipped with military forces and defences in at least three of diverse
islands it constructed in the disputed South China Sea, fortifying them with anti-ship and
anti-aircraft missile systems, laser and jamming gadgetry and fighter jets in an increasingly
belligerent move that terrorizes all nations working close-by, a top US military commander
stated.
This move of China is not the first time in the month of February, a moving army vessel of
the Chinese People’s Liberation flashed a military-grade laser at a plane of the Australian air
force while supervising coastline maritime surveillance.
This event does not occur in the South China Sea near China’s coastline, but in the Arafura
Sea, within the purview of Australian‘s absolute economic zone off the country’s north coast.
From this one can establish, this is the nearest military threat by the Chinese on Australia’s
coastline.
US Indo-Pacific commander Admiral John C Aquilino commented the confrontational
actions were in clear contradiction to the Chinese president Xi Jinping’s past affirmation that
Beijing would not modify the artificial islands in disputed waters into an army camp. The
efforts were part of China’s showcasing its power, he said.
“Over the past couple of decades we’ve observed the largest military expansion since world
war two by the PRC,” Aquilino said to the Associated Press in an interview, using the initials
of China’s formal name. “China has upgraded fully their potentialities and the expansion of
military equipment is definitely undermining the region.”
There was no instant response from Chinese officials. Beijing preserves its military profile is
absolutely defensive, organised to protect its sovereign rights. But after years of escalated
military disbursement, China now brags the world’s second-largest defence budget after the
US and is constantly updating its force with weapons systems counting the J-20 stealth
aircraft, hypersonic missiles and further adding which are under construction.
Aquilino stated this to the Associated Press on-board on a US navy reconnaissance aircraft
that hovered close to the Chinese-held frontier in the South China Sea’s Spratly archipelago,
one of the most challenged regions in the world. During the patrol, the P-8A Poseidon plane
was continuously cautioned by Chinese callers that it unlawfully infiltrated and said it was
China’s territory and instructed the aircraft to fly away.
China has jurisdiction over the Spratly islands, furthermore bordering maritime areas.
Abstain directly to avoid prejudice,” one of the forbidden radio messages said in an obscure
threat.
But the US navy plane rejected the several warnings and proceeded challengingly with its
reconnaissance in short but anxious moments viewed by two AP journalists invited on the
aircraft. “I am authorised and exempted United States naval aircraft supervising legal military
operation beyond the national airspace of any coastal state,” a US pilot replied back to the
Chinese.
US pilot further added practising these rights is undertaken by international law and I am
conducting with due respect to the rights and duties of all states,” he said.
Moreover, Navy commanding officer Joel Martinez recalled an event in which a Chinese jet
flew near a US aircraft in dangerous navigation in the contested region. The US flight crew
cautioned the Chinese to follow aviation safety regulations, he said.
As the US Poseidon flew close to the Chinese-occupied reefs, it seemed to dwell military
build-ups like multi-story buildings, warehouses, hangars, even seaports, runways and radars.
Near Fiery Cross, in addition, 40 vessels could be viewed evidently stationed.
Aquilino further added that the build-up of the military base with missile arsenals, aircraft
hangars, military systems and facilities on Mischief Reef, Subi Reef and Fiery Cross seems to
have been finished but it endured to be seen if China would further engage in the construction
of the military base in neighbouring areas.
The function of those islands is to extend the derogatory capability of China beyond their
continental shores,”1 he stated. Furthermore, the fear exists as this threatens all other nation
that operates in the purview and all the international sea and airspace.
China sought to bolster its massive territorial authority over virtually the entire South China
Sea by constructing island bases on coral atolls nearly ten ago. The US reacted by flying its
warships through the region in what it calls freedom of conducting missions. The US has no
jurisdiction itself but has stationed navy ships and aircraft for the last ten years to vigil and
encourages free manoeuver in international waterway and airspace.
China regularly showcased their discomfort with any operation by the US military. Moreover,
countries like the Philippines, Taiwan, Vietnam and Brunei claim part of the sea from which
an estimated $5ton in goods are transported every year.
We can conclude that this hostility of China, the long seething territorial dispute should be
resolved amicably. The recent move by the Philippine government to triumphantly move the
conflict with China to international arbitration showcases that both nations should rethink and
settle the dispute peacefully.
1 https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/mar/21/china-has-fully-militarized-three-islands-in-south-china-seaus-admiral-says
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