This Island Has Been Key To Launching China's Claim And Presence In The South China Sea

CNBC: China has been quietly perfecting a key military outpost in the disputed waters of the South China Sea. Here's a look at how it developed

* Beijing has quietly been building up a rugged power projection platform on Woody Island in the South China Sea.
* China first took possession of Woody Island in 1955 and has since equipped it with airstrips, hangars, ports and surface-to-air missile systems.
* Here's a look at how China developed this key strategic military outpost.

The numerous overlapping sovereign claims on islands, reefs, and rocks — many of which disappear under high tide — have turned the South China Sea into a virtual armed camp. And China has been quietly perfecting one of its key military outposts in the disputed waters.

The South China Sea, which is home to more than 200 specks of land, serves as a gateway to global sea routes through which approximately $3.4 trillion of trade passes annually.

China, the second-largest economy in the world, links its economic security closely to these waterways since more than 64 percent of its maritime trade transited through the region in 2016. The South China Sea is also a vital trade artery for Vietnam, Japan and South Korea.

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WNU Editor: The Chinese are definitely giving the impression to everyone that they are here to stay in the South China Sea.