XBradTC

CNN and other outlets are reporting that the Chinese have deployed surface to air missile batteries on the disputed Paracel islands in the South China Sea.

China has deployed surface-to-air missiles on a disputed island in the South China Sea, according to Taiwan and U.S. officials, in a move that has alarmed the country’s Asian neighbors.

Chinese state media said defenses had been in place on Woody Island, part of the Paracel chain in the hotly disputed sea, for years, and denied it was militarizing the island.

Chinese doublespeak and word salad aside, of course China is militarizing the region, and strengthening its claims of sovereignty. It is also attempting to establish precedent for further forays into the Spratley Islands. To be fair, China’s claims to the Paracels are fairly strong. Stronger than their claims to the Spratleys, at least.

Of course, the Obama administration will issue a statement and  do nothing, in spite of all its hype about a Pacific pivot.

Mind you, this isn’t that hard. The correct response is a simple one. Just have a P-8A Poseidon orbit directly over Woody Island on a regular basis. The Chinese will be faced with a shoot/don’t shoot dilemma.

They can either shoot down the P-8, with the assurance that a retaliatory strike will be forthcoming almost instantaneously. Or if they don’t shoot, it weakens their claim to  sovereignty. 

Mind you, this is all about legitimacy in times of peace. The islands are fixed, vulnerable installations that in a shooting war can and will be quickly neutralized by stand off weapons.