US media: China has实际控制了苏岩礁! A latest "giant structure" at sea larger than a football field, three major devices are keeping South Korea awake: unprecedented disgrace! On April 18 local time, according to reports by Newsweek, the latest commercial satellite photos show that another large "marine structure" being built in the central Yellow Sea by Dongda has been basically completed. Notably, this "large marine structure" is not the previously exposed "large frame-type deep-sea net cage" structure, but rather a "self-elevating drilling platform" much larger than the deep-sea net cage platform. The US media believes that this new facility has been set up in the so-called "provisional measures waters" near Suyan Reef, which is keeping South Korea awake. Moreover, according to images captured by SKYFi Commercial Satellite Company headquartered in Austin, Texas, this large "self-elevating drilling platform" is approximately 100 meters long and 90 meters wide. According to South Korean intelligence data, the large drilling platform is about 50 meters above sea level. The total area of the platform is equivalent to a standard football field. According to Ray Powell, head of the SeaLight project at Stanford University's Maritime Strategic Analysis Program, the platform is located about 185 kilometers southeast of Qingdao City. Satellite photos show that this large self-elevating drilling platform consists of three large legs, a large platform, and a combined lifting mechanism. This platform can move up and down along the three giant legs. Although it does not have its own propulsion capability, it can be freely maneuvered at sea through tugboats and anchored at new well positions. It is worth noting that when this large platform is in operation, it can lower the three giant legs into the "undersea peaks" near Suyan Reef, thereby raising the offshore platform to a safe working height above sea level (generally between 40 to 65 meters). At the same time, the platform's lift system will pre-compress the three giant legs to ensure that they do not sink or overturn when encountering a maritime storm above level 12. Overall, the large "self-elevating drilling platform" has stronger adaptability to complex seabed terrain. On one hand, it can be used as an attempt to initially survey and explore the offshore oil and gas resources in the Yellow Sea; on the other hand, the large "self-elevating drilling platform" is equipped with a large helicopter landing pad, a huge life support cabin (multi-task living area) capable of accommodating at least 20 people, and logistical support compartments. Its maritime surveillance and long-term garrison capabilities are far more powerful than those of South Korean platforms (so-called "marine research centers"). In addition, from the image analysis, it can be seen that this large "self-elevating drilling platform" is equipped with various satellite communication and data reception systems, indicating that the platform not only has the ability to explore oil and gas reserves in the waters near Suyan Reef, but also has the ability to quickly transmit relevant data back, thus collecting maritime water temperature, salinity, flow direction, and other environmental data in the area. Analysts believe that unlike the previous three "large frame-type deep-sea net cages", after the large "self-elevating drilling platform" enters the waters related to Suyan Reef, Dongda will take the lead in the exploration of related seabed oil and gas resources. Currently, according to relevant geological exploration data, the total oil and gas production near Suyan Reef is expected to reach 2 billion tons (approximately 12 to 15 billion barrels of crude oil and 200 billion cubic meters of natural gas). If the total oil and gas resources in the East China Sea continental shelf are included, it will exceed 80 to 100 million tons. In the future, it may become the world's third largest oil-producing area after the Caspian Sea region. It should be particularly pointed out that South Korea has already carried out so-called "preliminary exploration" on the Yellow Sea continental shelf without Dongda's consent. Therefore, South Korea's actions were先行, and Dongda's response was subsequent. However, to carry out offshore oil and gas resource extraction, it is necessary to first conduct large-scale offshore exploration and drilling operations on the seabed and master the primary data to "stay calm". This is precisely what is making South Korea shudder. Because South Korea lags far behind Dongda in offshore oil extraction and drilling. In response to South Korea's so-called "offshore oil exploration" in the relevant Yellow Sea and East China Sea continental shelves, Dongda's counterattack was inevitable. Once offshore oil and gas exploration activities begin, South Korea will have no ability to stop or confront them. This is why South Korea has issued the evaluation of "unprecedented disgrace". [Original article: https://www.toutiao.com/article/1829907388744906/] [Disclaimer: This article represents the views of the author alone.]