Locklear: Chinese reclamation works in South China Sea could lead to new ADIZ

Commander of the U.S. Pacific Command, Adm. Samuel Locklear, told Congress that China’s may be able to enforce a Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ) over South China Sea once reclamation works on islands it occupied there are completed.

Spratly with flags
By CIA. Cropped and Flags added by Estarapapax. (Central Intelligence Agency.) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

“It allows them to exert basically greater influence over what’s now a contested area. Expanded land features down there also could eventually lead to the deployment of things such as long-range radars, military, and advanced missile systems,” he said.

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