China’s man-made islands in the West Philippine Sea might be destroyed by Typhoon Carina.
Typhoon Carina (international name: Nida), carrying winds of more than 100 km per hour, entered Hong Kong and Southern China on Monday after barreling through Ilocos and Cagayan Regions in the Philippines.
Guangdong Province and Hong Kong are currently on red alert due to major flooding. As much as 150 flights were cancelled and 325 more will be rescheduled at Hong Kong International Airport. Trams, buses, and ferry services were also suspended.
As Carina wreaks havoc in Southern China, many people are wondering what happened to China’s artificial islands in the West Philippine Sea?
Asian Correspondent for Quartz Steve Mollman is not so optimistic.
He said these fake islands were made atop coral reefs, which couldn’t withstand continuous storms and increasing sea levels. The island on top of Fiery Cross Reef in Spartlys, for example, crumbled months after its construction.
Mollman added it only takes one super typhoon to “wipe out” these man-made islands.
China had been creating artificial islands before the International Court denied its claims on the West Philippine Sea. China vowed to ignore the ruling and pushed for a more aggressive reclamation efforts in the area.
But as Mollman said, “Nature, though, may prove to be an even more powerful threat than international law.”
Source: KickerDaily
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