China’s Lighthouses on South China Sea Islands
Posted: November 9, 2016 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: China, Cuarteron, Fiery Cross Reef, Johnson South, lighthouses, Mischief, Mulantou, South China Sea, Subi Comments Off on China’s Lighthouses on South China Sea Islands
Photos of five light houses on Chinese islands in the South China Sea that appear in a set of 5 new Chinese stamps issued on October 28.
Cuarteron Reef lighthouse
Johnson South Reef lighthouse
Subi Reef lighthouse
Fiery Cross Reef lighthouse
Mischief Reef lighthouse
Maintenance of lighthouse
Mulantou lighthouse
The above are photos of the lighthouses China has built on its reefs and islands in the South China Sea.
Source: hinews.cn “Too beautiful, China’s lighthouses on islands in the South China Sea” (summary by Chan Kai Yee based on the report in Chinese
Mystic Bar-shaped Facilities on China’s Artificial Cuarteron Island
Posted: October 6, 2016 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: artificial island, China, Cuarteron, South China Sea 12 Comments
The above September-3 satellite photo of China’s artificial island on Cuarteron Reef shows that the island is filled with mystic bar-shaped facilities. No one knows what the facilities are and why they have been built there.
To have a clearer image, we have above the satellite photo of a corner of the artificial island bar-shaped facilities there.
The above is a photo of China’s artificial island on Cuarteron Reef taken in July before the facilities were built there.
A comparison between the two photos is given below:
Source: mil.news.sina.com.cn “What are the bar-shaped facilities? Disclosure of new photo of Cuarteron Island” (summary by Chan Kai Yee based on the report in Chinese)
China Building Radar on Gaven Reef in Addition to Cuarteron Reef
Posted: February 25, 2016 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: artificial island, China, Cuarteron, Gavan, militarization of island, South China Sea, US 1 Comment
A satellite image released by the Asian Maritime Transparency Initiative at Washington’s Center for Strategic and International Studies shows construction of possible radar tower facilities in the Spratly Islands in the disputed South China Sea in this image released on…
Reuters/CSIS Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative/DigitalGlobe/Handout via Reuters
According to the above photo provided by Reuters in its report “China says media ignores other claimants’ weaponry in South China Sea” today, China is building radar on its artificial island on Gaven Reef in addition to that on Cuarteron Reef as reported earlier.
China says it will install defensive military facilities on its artificial islands. However, there is no clear demarcation line between defensive and offensive facilities and most defensive facilities can be used for attack. For example, radar can be used to detect and track attacking warplanes and warships but also provide guidance in attack. China certainly will not spend such a lot of funds in building the islands if national security is not its first priority.
As the US is now clear, though too late, that its aircraft carriers cannot attack China, the alternatives suggested by its military experts are the use of its attack nuclear submarines or strategic bombers. Pentagon has placed a large order for the bombers but it takes time to build them. However, it has already had quite a few advanced attack nuclear submarines. What it needs is only to extend the range of its submarine-launched cruise missiles, an easy job.
That has given rise to the urgency for China to build artificial islands on such a large scale and at such high speed. Since the US cannot stop the construction, it certainly cannot stop the militarization of the islands. What it is talking about and doing can only give China the excuse to do what it intends to do.
Comments by Chan Kai Yee on Reuter’s report, full text of which can be read below:
China says media ignores other claimants’ weaponry in South China Sea
China on Wednesday complained the media were ignoring radars and weapons deployed by other claimants in the South China Sea, and unfairly targeting China, following reports of its deployment of fighter jets and radars in the disputed waterway.
Over the past week or so China has been reported to have deployed advanced missiles, fighters and radar equipment on islands in the South China Sea, especially on Woody Island in the Paracels.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying reiterated that as far as China was concerned, there was no dispute over ownership of the Paracels, and so China could deploy what it wanted on its territory without reproach.
“I suggest to the media that, in your reports, you not selectively pump up or ignore things,” Hua told a daily news briefing on Wednesday.
“Because when you pay attention to what China is deploying, do you also pay attention to other countries which have over the years, on Chinese islands they have occupied, deployed many radars and advanced weaponry? I hope friends in the media can objectively, justly, rationally and calmly make their reports.”
China claims most of the South China Sea, through which more than $5 trillion in global trade passes every year. Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei, the Philippines and Taiwan have rival claims.
The comments, which come as Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi visits the United States, follow remarks on Tuesday by Admiral Harry Harris, head of the U.S. Pacific Command, that China was “clearly militarizing” the South China Sea.
Harris said he believed China’s deployment of surface-to-air missiles on Woody Island, new radars on Cuarteron Reef in the Spratlys and its building of airstrips were “actions that are changing, in my opinion, the operational landscape in the South China Sea”.
Soon after he spoke, U.S. government sources confirmed that China recently deployed fighter jets to Woody Island. It was not the first time China sent jets there but the move raised new questions about its intentions.
China’s official Xinhua news agency, in an English language commentary, said the “hype” about China’s “so-called militarization” failed to mention that China had for many years deployed defensive measures on Woody Island.
“For the South China Sea waters to be calm, Washington should first stop its ugly practice of smearing China and avoid any move that stirs up tension in the region,” it said.
(Reporting by Ben Blanchard; Editing by Clarence Fernandez)
China Building Anti-stealth Radar on Cuarteron Artificial Island
Posted: February 23, 2016 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: anti-stealth radar, artificial island, China, Cuarteron 3 Comments
A Jan. 24, 2016 image of Cuarteron Reef in the South China Sea with what is likely a high frequency radar array. CSIS Asian Maritime Transparency Initiative, DigitalGlobe Image used with permission.
Another Jan. 24, 2016 image of Cuarteron Reef in the South China Sea with what is likely a high frequency radar array. CSIS, DigitalGlobe Image used with permission.
USNI News says in its report “New Possible Chinese Radar Installation on South China Sea Artificial Island Could Put U.S., Allied Stealth Aircraft at Risk” today that according to satellite image, “New Possible Chinese Radar Installation on South China Sea Artificial Island Could Put U.S., Allied Stealth Aircraft at Risk.”
The above satellite images show the radars and other facilities China is building on the artificial island China has built on Cuarteron Reef.
USNI News says that US and its allies’ stealth warplanes may be in danger as “A possible HF array on Cuarteron could feed what its detects back to mainland China through data links to provide information to radars capable of better targeting stealth aircraft less real estate to scan and then route that data to anti-air warfare missile systems.”
The following is the full text of USNI News’ report:
New Possible Chinese Radar Installation on South China Sea Artificial Island Could Put U.S., Allied Stealth Aircraft at Risk
By: Sam LaGrone February 22, 2016 3:19 PM • Updated: February 22, 2016
A possible new Chinese radar installation in the South China Sea could put American and allied stealth aircraft at risk as part of a wider detection network similar to U.S. efforts to find Russian bombers in the Cold War.
Late January satellite imagery from the Center for Strategic and International Studies and DigitalGlobe show the installation of what’s likely a high frequency radar installation the Chinese disputed holding of Cuarteron Reef near the Philippines.
The imagery from DigitalGlobe shows a field on the island with 65 foot-tall poles in a field on reclaimed land on the reef – China’s southern most holding in the region – that are similar to other maritime HF radars, Greg Poling, head of the center’s Asian Maritime Transparency Initiative told USNI News on Monday.
“Why would you have 20-meter poles spread across this features if it’s not high frequency radar? ” Poling said.
“Maybe a giant tarp?”
It’s unclear from the imagery if the site on Cuarteron is operational and inquires left with the Department of Defense by USNI News on Monday were not immediately answered. The Washington Post first reported the installation early Monday afternoon
Bryan Clark, a maritime analyst at the Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments (CSBA), said that while a high frequency radar on the island could have some law enforcement value – like similar radars the U.S. uses to detect drug runners in the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean — it’s likely an HF radar on Cuarteron has a secondary military use to detect stealth aircraft.
Similar U.S. and Russian radars can detect surface targets at ranges well over the horizon – 80 to 200 miles. However Chinese and Russian versions could also notice the presence of low observable aircraft, Clark said.
“If I’m China, this is what I want to install so I can monitor maritime and aviation contacts,” he said.
“It’s got a nice dual use. It can find other aircraft that would be hard to find with traditional early warning radar frequencies.”
China has already installed similar radars on its coastline that are used to detect the presence of stealth aircraft.
A possible HF array on Cuarteron could feed what its detects back to mainland China through data links to provide information to radars capable of better targeting stealth aircraft less real estate to scan and then route that data to anti-air warfare missile systems.
The setup “gives you some indications and warning that there are stealth aircraft in the area,” Clark said.
In particular, U.S. stealth aircraft – like the Northrop Grumman B-2 Spirit bomber and Lockheed Martin’s F-22 Raptor and F-35 Lighting II Joint Strike Fighter – are optimized against the high end of the radar spectrum.
Higher frequency radars – on their own — can tell when a low observable or stealth aircraft is in its range but do not have the fidelity to lock weapons. However — as reported by USNI News in 2014 — Russia and China both are perfecting lower band radar that could successfully target low observable aircraft working in conjunction with an HF early warning system. The radars could also provide information to Chinese fighters a general idea where to intercept an adversary.
In addition to the U.S., Australia and Japan are in the process of acquiring F-35s.
The U.S. used a similar idea when it create the Distant Early Warning line to detect Russian bombers starting in the late 1950s.
“It’s the same idea as the DEW Line,” Clark said of an HF array on Cuarteron.
“You could look at this as extending the range of their early warning radars.”
Chris Carlson, a retired U.S. Navy captain and analyst told USNI News that the installation on Cuarteron was much smaller than other similar mainland arrays and its unclear how well the secondary function of the radars would work at the size seen in the images released on Monday.
Additionally, given the location near the Philippines, the alleged HF installation on Cuarteron could also monitor U.S. aircraft movements in the country at long range — all in a package with which China can claim for civilian law enforcement uses, Clark said.
“They can say this is for fishery enforcement and maritime domain awareness and that’s what China will probably claim,” he said.
Beijing has repeatedly said the new installations on the reef, also home to a lighthouse completed in October, are to provide “better public services and goods for the international community,” according to a Monday press briefing with Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokeswoman Hua Chunying.
Last week satellite imagery of Woody Island in the Paracel chain near Vietnam revealed more than 30 mobile anti-air warfare missiles had been placed on the island – raising questions on China’s peaceful intent in the region.
Beijing implicitly defended the move of the HQ-9 system to Woody Island – confirmed last week by Foreign Minister Wang Yi.
“The Chinese side is entitled to safeguard its territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests,” Hua said later in her Monday briefing.
“China’s deployment of limited defense facilities on its own territory is its exercise of self-defense right to which a sovereign state is entitled under international law. It has nothing to do with militarization. It is something that comes naturally, and is completely justified and lawful. The U.S. should view that correctly instead of making an issue of that with deliberate sensationalization [sic].”
Source: USNI News “New Possible Chinese Radar Installation on South China Sea Artificial Island Could Put U.S., Allied Stealth Aircraft at Risk”
Tiananmen's Tremendous Achievements 