China says it could have seized other islands in South China Sea but has shown restraint

China has shown “great restraint” in the South China Sea by not seizing islands occupied by other countries even though it could have

That would have been very difficult to do with a US destroyer blocking its way. Once again, the paper dragon speaks.

Another step closer to an "accidental" clash in the SCS.

This is like a bully saying 'you should be thankful I don't beat you up, because I could'.

Ridiculous.

@bass4funkNOV. 17, 2015 - 03:32PM JST

That would have been very difficult to do with a US destroyer blocking its way. Once again, the paper dragon speaks.

And what would one American destroyer do when multiple ships attempt landings? It can't block them all, so either it lets some through or it conducts an act of war on its initiative.

China is being a bully here, but this point is problematic.

You're missing the bigger point. Do you think the US has ONLY ONE destroyer??? How many ships, destroyers, battlecruisers and aircraft carriers do the Chinese have? The US doesn't have to fire any shots, but a heavy Naval presence could give China some serious pause.

China is entirely confident in the power of its navy, too confident in fact. Chinese people have been brought up on the concept of Chinese missiles taking out US aircraft carriers. The problem, and Chinese and US leaders know it, is too much aggression on both sides could easily spark off war, beneficial to no-one.

China will now claim it owns the world due to history of Pangaea

@bass4funkNOV. 17, 2015 - 04:17PM JST

You're missing the bigger point. Do you think the US has ONLY ONE destroyer??? How many ships, destroyers, battlecruisers and aircraft carriers do the Chinese have? The US doesn't have to fire any shots, but a heavy Naval presence could give China some serious pause.

In the South China Sea, the Americans are operating in a region where the Chinese can flood the airspace with as many fighters as their bases will support (in the range of several hundred if they are determined). But the bigger problem is will. If any American destroyers cannot open fire, the Chinese will just stream around them and land on the islands.

And if the Americans DO open fire (unlikely), the Chinese have at least a 50% chance of making it out to be American aggression or at least disproportionate response. The West has allowed the Chinese to get into their heads too much, and while they may consider Chinese ideas of "sovereignty" inferior, it is at least defensible to the American zeitgeist. In that, Chinese propaganda has been successful.

Wow; isn't that NICE of them ?

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China is building facilities such as lighthouses, while protecting the environment, Liu added. Satellite photographs show construction is finished on a 3,000-meter-long airstrip on Fiery Cross Reef.

Protecting the enviroment by turning a reef into a 3,000 meter air strip.

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In the South China Sea, the Americans are operating in a region where the Chinese can flood the airspace with as many fighters as their bases will support (in the range of several hundred if they are determined).

Then the US can scramble within a few hours their fighters F-16-18 and perhaps the F-22 as well, which are better, faster, and deadlier, also another point you have to factor in is, how prepared is China really for ANY military conflict? When was the last time they were in a real war and not just a few domestic internal dust up?Since the 2nd WW.

But the bigger problem is will. If any American destroyers cannot open fire, the Chinese will just stream around them and land on the islands.

They can land, but that is not the issue. The problem is, they won't be able to block other ships from passing if the US will maintain a presence there with ships and Nuclear Subs.

And if the Americans DO open fire (unlikely), the Chinese have at least a 50% chance of making it out to be American aggression or at least disproportionate response.

There doesn't need to be any conflict, but China is out of its mind if it thinks it can claim a section of that ocean as their territory.

The West has allowed the Chinese to get into their heads too much, and while they may consider Chinese ideas of "sovereignty" inferior, it is at least defensible to the American zeitgeist. In that, Chinese propaganda has been successful.

To a point that's true and I don't think China has to take any aggressive stance, if it just doesn't do the foolish thing of blocking and not allowing another sovereign nation to sail through international waters. There are many things you can do to make sure the Chinese know that every country has the right to through this area.

Protecting the enviroment by turning a reef into a 3,000 meter air strip.

Exactly, just mind boggling! Essentially, they turned that area into a giant aircraft carrier.

Could've kicked ya in the nuts, but I just punched you in the face since I'm showing some restraint

Absolute idiots.

And yet another foot in the mouth comment from China. How is it possible to keep repeating such statements over time? It struck me the other day that if everyone else is regarded as ignorant, then the comments from China would seem reasonable. Could it be that Chinas government has taken on the great emperors views from old?

To me, that sort of statement made by the Chinese government makes them seem like terrible bullies. I hope this news spreads far and wide throughout the globe. What a stupid thing to say.

China says it could have seized other islands in South China Sea but has shown restraint

OK, everyone... 1... 2... 3... KOWTOW TO THE MAGNANIMOUS MANDARINS!

China's 100-year plan probably includes stretching the red curtain over Kyushu, Honshu, and Hokkaido. I mean, why not?

I wonder what Russia's stance on this and what they think of their fellow BRICS member acting aggressively. This doesn't bode well for stability in the region, and I'm sure Russia is aware of this.

But China was the real victim as it had had “dozens” of its islands and reefs in the Spratlys illegally occupied by three of the claimants,But China was the real victim as it had had “dozens” of its islands and reefs in the Spratlys illegally occupied by three of the claimants,

Bwhahahaha..... Classic! China now want to play a victim card. The world knows China's wrong doing. Clean up your act!

Great restraint? Right.

More like the 7th Fleet.

turbotsatNov. 18, 2015 - 01:26AM JST

China's 100-year plan probably includes stretching the red curtain over Kyushu, Honshu, and Hokkaido. I mean, why not?

They already have claimed mineral rich North Pole is their territory, even though China is not even sharing border. So funny.

globalwatcher: They already have claimed mineral rich North Pole is their territory, even though China is not even sharing border. So funny.

That's got to be some kind of gerrymandering. Little strip up through the Bering Strait.