Taiwan Asks Google To Blur Its Military Facilities In South China Sea (nbcnews.com)

An anonymous reader quotes a report from Reuters: Taiwan's defense ministry said on Wednesday it is asking Google to blur satellite images showing what experts say appear to be new military installations on Itu Aba, Taipei's sole holding in the disputed South China Sea. The revelation of new military-related construction could raise tensions in the contested waterway, where China's building of airstrips and other facilities has worried other claimants and the United States. The images seen on Google Earth show four three-pronged structures sitting in a semi-circle just off the northwestern shoreline of Itu Aba, across from an upgraded airstrip and recently constructed port that can dock 3,000-ton frigates. "Under the pre-condition of protecting military secrets and security, we have requested Google blur images of important military facilities," Taiwan Defense Ministry spokesman Chen Chung-chi said on Wednesday, after local media published the images on Itu Aba. The United States has urged against the militarization of the South China Sea, following the rapid land reclamation by China on several disputed reefs through dredging, and building air fields and port facilities. Defense experts in Taiwan said that based on the imagery of the structures and their semi-circular layout, the structures were likely related to defense and could be part of an artillery foundation.

Comments

Re:Stupid

[smooth wombat]

Same thing with Israel. They believe that by having Google blur images of their Dimona nuclear plant or where their nuclear weapons are stored that somehow no one will be able to find them.

Re:Stupid

[bobbied]

Taiwan actually believes that China relies on Google Maps for its military intel?

Well, likely they just want to make it harder for the less well equipped terrorist who doesn't own the billions of dollars worth of hardware required to take the photos themselves from getting them? Plus, it actually would make it more difficult for China, who, instead of hitting up Google might actually have to take the images themselves to see what they think they need to see...

So, I understand why they are asking... And I don't think they are under any illusions about how much of an advantage they are taking away from their advisories if Google grants their request, but every little bit helps.