September 4, 2021
Are China's South China Sea Bases A Problem For The U.S. Navy?
China continues construction across the region, meaning that it may expand its military presence in the future.
by Robert Farley Follow drfarls on Twitter L
Here's What You Need to Know: Militarily, they represent a thin crust on China’s A2/AD system. Under certain conditions this crust could disrupt U.S. freedom of action, but it won’t be hard for the United States’ Air Force and Navy to punch through.China has built some islands in the South China Sea. Can it protect them?
During World War II Japan found that control of islands offered some strategic advantages, but not enough to force the United States to reduce each island individually. Moreover, over time the islands became a strategic liability, as Japan struggled to keep them supplied with food, fuel and equipment. The islands of the SCS are conveniently located for China, but do they really represent an asset to China’s military? The answer is yes, but in an actual conflict the value would dwindle quickly.
https://nationalinterest.org/blog/reboot/are-chinas-south-china-sea-bases-problem-us-navy-193134
