China throws 3G net over disputed island chain The Spratly Islands now have 3G coverage, connecting the uninhabited rocks and reefs to China's telecommunications network, much to the annoyance of Vietnam, Taiwan, Malaysia and the Philippines. The 750 specks of land which make up the Islands do host some soldiers, and fishing vessels will no doubt appreciate the coverage, …
as it they're prepared to get a decent 3G on a remote island on the off chance of some oil and a few fish, perhaps they might consider providing coverage to the large bits of the UK that still don't have a decent signal (and FTTH would also be nice, even FTTC would be good). Lets face it, privatised industry understandably hasn't really kept the national infrastructure up to date.
We've some dregs left in the barrel and a few sprats left if that would sweeten the mix just a bit.
Dear employees of Sir J. Evans,
Yes I realise that this appears unpatriotic and possibly even treasonous, it's a joke. A bit like the management of our national infrastructure by companies not given the right targets by our elected governments as advised by our civil servants. You guys are however (IIRC) Crown employees and therefore not regarded in the same light.
Actually it's far worse than that, Vietnamese have been killed on both fishing and government/military boats both around the Spratly/Paracells and in the northern part of Ha Long Bay.
The Chinese are a*reholes of the worst type.
Th Vietnamese Navy has 'tours' out there for people interested in seeing a few hardy souls, tending their gardens and fishing. They also have a weather station and the public power runs from 06.00-22.00H daily.
There is not too much love lost between VN and China, although the really Old Farts in Ha Noi make trips to BeiJing every 5 years.
VN has documentary and archaeological proof they were out there hundreds of years ago which, naturally, China rejects having proclaimed the whole of the South China Sea to be their territory.
Last time VietNam and China fought, in 1979, the Chinese invaded northern VN and lost 20,000 soldiers in 17 days. The Vietnamese loaded the dead in freight cars and pushed them north. During the Chinese withdrawal they blew up every significant bit of infrastructure including bridges and larger buildings. The Russians then befriended VN and the result was some of the ugliest buildings and bridges, etc. you have ever seen.
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It's been predicted for a long time that the next major oil war will be in the Spratleys.
It's likely to be china vs "everyone else" in the area and they've all been posturing for 40 years - everyone around the south china sea has made territorial claims at some point or another and they're as valid as each other, but if push comes to shove a lot of the countries involved will join forces to face off the chinese, then deal with everything else later.
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