China pulls missiles from South China Sea island in possible nod to Trump

[SirLinksALot]

SOURCE: WASHINGTON TIMES

URL: https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2018/jun/10/china-pulls-missiles-south-china-sea-island-possib/

By L. Todd Wood


The Chinese militarization of the South China Sea has been happening for some time. Since the weak Obama administration wouldn’t stand up to any dictator, the Chinese, along with other adversaries, probably just said “Why not?” and proceeded with their malignant behavior in creating the ability to block traffic in one of the world’s busiest sea lanes.

Anti-ship missile batteries, anti-aircraft defense systems, fighter jets and bombers have all been sighted on the atolls in the region that China has claimed and fortified.

Satellite imagery and new analysis from Israeli intelligence firm ImageSat International (ISI), dated June 3, suggested the Chinese surface-to-air missile systems on Woody Island, in the Paracel Islands, may have been removed or relocated, The South China Morning Post reported.

Beijing-based naval expert Li Jie declared the Chinese may have removed them for maintenance purposes, or simply hidden them inside buildings, only to be redeployed again later, wrote SCMP.

“With the increasingly tense relations between the two countries, it’s understandable that we make a little gesture of compromise,” said Li.

(EXCERPT) CLICK ABOVE LINK FOR THE REST....

[Restored]

A lovely empty gesture.

[Bigun]

A lovely empty gesture.

How so?  Seems a notable development to me.

[SirLinksALot]

China could simply be hiding them for the occasion.

And of course, they could re-deploy them later.

[Free Vulcan]

A lovely empty gesture.

Empty how?

[RedHead]

How so?  Seems a notable development to me.

Because it likely didn't happen.  The source of the story, South China Morning Post, reported yesterday the missiles were back.  Likely never left the island.

https://www.rt.com/news/429443-chinese-missiles-disputed-islands/

[Bigun]

Because it likely didn't happen.  The source of the story, South China Morning Post, reported yesterday the missiles were back.  Likely never left the island.

https://www.rt.com/news/429443-chinese-missiles-disputed-islands/

Ok.  I should have included the words if true in my original post.

[TomSea]

Because it likely didn't happen.  The source of the story, South China Morning Post, reported yesterday the missiles were back.  Likely never left the island.

https://www.rt.com/news/429443-chinese-missiles-disputed-islands/

Russia is ranked 138th out of 180 countries for freedom of the press and we are suppose to take their state media's word on this? Which is all RT is.  Too funny.

[SirLinksALot]

Because it likely didn't happen.  The source of the story, South China Morning Post, reported yesterday the missiles were back.  Likely never left the island.

https://www.rt.com/news/429443-chinese-missiles-disputed-islands/

So, which one do we believe, the one from the Washington Times and South China Morning Post, or the Russian affiliated RT News?

[thackney]

So, which one do we believe, the one from the Washington Times and South China Morning Post, or the Russian affiliated RT News?

Actual source for both the initial report and the update are one and the same.

#ImageSat was the first to report (3rd June 2018) the disapearance of the SAM systems deployment from #Woody Island. Here's an updated #imagery #intelligence #report, which reveals for the first time their reapearance in the same disputed South #China Sea island.

https://twitter.com/imagesatint/status/1006112464474398721

[Oceander]

I don’t see the “nod to Trump” part of this, even assuming the missiles were moved. 

[skeeter]

Actual source for both the initial report and the update are one and the same.

#ImageSat was the first to report (3rd June 2018) the disapearance of the SAM systems deployment from #Woody Island. Here's an updated #imagery #intelligence #report, which reveals for the first time their reapearance in the same disputed South #China Sea island.

https://twitter.com/imagesatint/status/1006112464474398721

It looks like they just temporarily relocated them.

[RedHead]

Russia is ranked 138th out of 180 countries for freedom of the press and we are suppose to take their state media's word on this? Which is all RT is.  Too funny.

Well then how about the South China Morning Post itself?

https://www.scmp.com/video/china/2150264/china-redeploys-surface-air-missile-systems-south-china-seas-woody-island

[edpc]

These operations from last month on the islands are what should really concern us.  The H-6K is based on an old Russian Tupolev TU-16 design.  It carries their CJ-10 anti-ship cruise missiles with a 1000lb warhead.


(CNN)China says it has landed long-range bombers for the first time on an island in the South China Sea, the latest in a series of maneuvers putting Beijing at odds with its neighbors and Washington over China's growing military presence around disputed islands.

The People's Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) announced on Friday it successfully organized the takeoff and landing of several bombers, including the nuclear-capable H-6K, on an unspecified island. The PLA claimed the mission was a part of China's aim to achieve a broader regional reach, quicker mobilization, and greater strike capabilities.

https://www.cnn.com/2018/05/20/asia/south-china-sea-bombers-islands-intl/index.html?no-st=1528911848





The Exocet missile has a 350lb warhead.  Just one of those hit the USS Stark in 1987, killing 37 and injuring 21 sailors.