Thoughts on China and the South China Sea.

Interesting juxtaposition of two trains of  thought on the level of threat created by China's construction and fortification of artificial islands in the South China Sea.

ADM (Ret.) Jim STAVRIDIS calls it a large threat in a speech he gave earlier this year. The link to the 1 hour talk, about an hour, talk is:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zzKXyIGjY6w

The speech is about an hour and worth watching in its entirety. Sorry but I don't have the time where he talks about the South China Sea.

A counterpoint comes from blogger Stephen Green. He discusses the problems with fixed fortifications. His post is here:

https://pjmedia.com/vodkapundit/south-china-sea-has-beijing-given-up-fortifying-its-illegal-islands/

BLATE: Bottom line at the end - it becomes an important waterway if we surrender the right of free navigation in international waters. That is why we need the most powerful Navy in the world.