China’s sea control is a done deal, ‘short of war with the US’

NEAR MISCHIEF REEF, South China Sea — As the United States Navy reconnaissance plane banked low near Mischief Reef in the South China Sea early this month, a Chinese warning crackled on the radio.

“U.S. military aircraft,” came the challenge, delivered in English in a harsh staccato. “You have violated our China sovereignty and infringed on our security and our rights. You need to leave immediately and keep far out.”

Aboard the P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft, flying in what is widely considered to be international airspace, Lt. Dyanna Coughlin scanned a live camera feed showing the dramatic evolution of Mischief Reef.

Five years ago, this was mostly an arc of underwater atoll populated by tropical fish and turtles. Now Mischief Reef, which is off the Philippine coast but controlled by China, has been filled out and turned into a Chinese military base, complete with radar domes, shelters for surface-toair missiles and a runway long enough for fighter jets. Six other nearby shoals have been similarly transformed by Chinese dredging.

“I mean, this is insane,” Coughlin said. “Look at all that crazy construction.”

A rare visit on board a U.S. Navy surveillance flight over the South China Sea pointed out how profoundly China has reshaped the security landscape across the region.

The country’s aggressive territorial claims and island militarization have put neighboring countries and the United States on the defensive, even as President Donald Trump’s administration is stepping up efforts to highlight China’s controversial island-building campaign.

Marc-andre Fleury approaches his locker following the first day of training camp for the Vegas Golden Knights. ¶ He pulls off his mask and places it on the shelf at the top of his stall, turns around and sits on the bench. Still wearing his gear, he smiles as reporters huddle around him and reaches his hand up to slick his long hair back away from his eyes. ¶ The NHL altered goaltenders’ chest protectors this offseason, making them smaller in several areas to cover less of the net. When Fleury was wearing the standard padding last year, his arms weren’t as mobile, and he never could have slicked his hair back while wearing it. ¶ “I guess that’s one of the benefits,” Fleury jokes.

But Fleury and many goalies around the NHL aren’t completely satisfied with the new equipment. They are still request-