China's mischief on the reefs

Thank you to Alia who sent in this excellent article after our Grade 11 lesson on ocean geopolitics this week. 

http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/opinion/2015/04/china-mischief-reefs-150429085929472.html

China has laid claim to a number of ocean features in the Spratly chain of islands in the South China Sea. Satellite imagery shows that they are already transforming reefs, atolls and sand banks in to military garrisons and airfields in a id to extend their military influence in to that region.

So why is this a problem?

Because the Spratly islands do not lie within China's EEZ (exclusive economic zone), they in fact lie in the Phillippines zone which according to the UN law of the sea means that without the permission of the Phillippines, this should not be going on. And the Phillippines most certainly have not given their permission. Read the article for more information and to see what the US have to say about it too!