VietNamNet Bridge - China is also building mobile islands, which can be used for military purposes in the South China Sea (East Sea).

In relation to warnings about American experts on China’s manufacturing of a series of "mobile islands" in the East Sea, marine expert Phan Vinh Tri, former Director of Information Technology of the Vietnam Shipbuilding Industry Group (Vinashin), said: "The real purpose of China in building mobile island is unpredictable. However, a clear effect that we can see it right now is these mobile islands will enhance the presence of China in the East Sea, anywhere they want and for a longer time. These mobile islands are better resistant to winds and waves, and can accommodate more vehicles and people."

Tri said: "The mobile islands, as well as the oil rig HD 981, will be certainly escorted by a strong fleet. The immediate influence is the restriction of the activities of fishermen and boats around them in the radius set by China."

According to Tri, Vietnam should be more active in ways consistent with the country’s conditions and ability to increase the presence and sovereignty in Vietnamese waters. Specifically, Vietnam can use large vessels, which are currently vacant, as the "mobile small islands", for many purposes: patrol, telecommunications, marine research, search and rescue, fishing logistics...

The presence of these ships on Vietnam’s waters would assert the country’s sovereignty, while contributing to hindering Chinese vessels and supporting Vietnamese fishermen.

Is China establishing an Air Defense Zone?

Chinese military officials announce a project to build mobile islands in the East Sea for military purposes. Photo: Huang Bohai News

American experts Jeffrey Lin and PW Singer have told Popular Science magazine that the mobile islands are built by two Chinese companies - Jidong Development Group (JDG) and Hainan Industrial Company. The first island will be used for offshore oil and gas exploration in the East Sea.

The experts said that at a recent press conference, a Chinese military officer declared that the mobile islands would serve many military purposes.

"Mobile islands can support civil and military missions, including provision supply, aircraft parking and the basis for amphibious vehicles," the American experts said.

The floating islands are designed in a modular form, assembled from pieces, with three different sizes.

The smallest island will be 300 m long and 90 m wide while the largest island will be up to 900 m long and 120 m wide. The medium-size floating island is 600 m long and 120 m wide.

The authors estimated that three floating islands have an expected loading capacity from 400,000 to 1.5 million tons, and can move at a speed of 16 km/h.

Modular design allows JDG to expand the islands by inserting pieces like Lego games.

Although each module has a large size, it will be easy to assemble them offshore. The modules will be pulled by heavy boats from docks on the shore to the sea.

This design also makes it more difficult to sink the islands.

According to analysts, China is aggressively consolidating its forces in the East Sea as a springboard to the establishment of the Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ). This country is blatantly turning reefs into artificial islands through large-scale reclamation projects, despite international opposition.

Dat Viet