Jeju Naval Base. Why?

Despite bitter and widespread protest a billion dollar United States Naval Base has been constructed at Gangjeong

 on Jeju Island about 70km South of mainland ROK. 

  This map, tells you why: 

Source: http://nautilus.org/napsnet/napsnet-policy-forum/national-and-international-protests-challenge-naval-base-construction-on-jeju-island-south-korea/

The base is 490 km (305 miles) from Shanghai, China. 

That is about all you need to know really.  

It has nothing to do with the securing the waterway for international trade, or incursions by Chinese fishing boats, or DPRK, or Socratra Rock or any of the other disputed islands in that region.

Reflect a moment

What would the reaction be to the Chinese establishing a base capable of docking 20 warships some 305 miles from the Californian coast?

Would US protesters be listened to?

For some further information:

http://koreanstory.wordpress.com/2011/07/28/gangjung-timeline-68/

http://www.veteransforpeace.org/pressroom/news/2012/04/27/us-and-south-korea-assault-an-idyllic-island--not-for-the-first-time

http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/rok/jeju.htm

http://www.doam.org/index.php/projekte/frieden-und-sicherheit/cheonan-2/1146-a-naval-base-on-jeju-island-an-evaluation

http://www.kpolicy.org/documents/interviews-opeds/120722christineahnandersmullerenvironmentalistsmisschance.html

USA bases in South Korea:  https://sites.google.com/site/nzdprksociety/usa-bases-in-south-korea-and-japan