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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.

2 of 52 comments (clear)

  1. Stupid by hackwrench · · Score: 5, Insightful

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

    1. Re:Stupid by smooth+wombat · · Score: 4, Informative

      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.

      --
      We will bankrupt ourselves in the vain search for absolute security. -- Dwight D. Eisenhower