Conflict In The Pacific

The struggle for control over the Pacific has recently revealed satellite images showing China is building an island on a reef in the disputed Spratly Islands large enough to accommodate what could be its first offshore airstrip in the South China Sea, a leading defense publication said on Friday. 'The construction has stoked concern that China may be converting disputed territory in the mineral-rich archipelago into military installations, adding to tensions waters also claimed by Taiwan, Malaysia, the Philippines, Vietnam and Brunei. ..... The building work flies in the face of U.S. calls for a freeze in provocative activity in the South China Sea, one of Asia's biggest security issues.' (Yahoo News, 22 November) This is an ominous development that increases the prospect of conflict in the area. RD