Satellite photographs taken in late July show China appears to have built reinforced aircraft hangars on its holdings in disputed South China Sea islands, a Washington-based research group said.
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Judging by the rapid construction of reinforced hangars at all three facilities, CSIS say this is likely to change. The Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Taiwan and Brunei have overlapping claims.
THAAD’s location was announced a day after The Hague court ruled against China’s claims in sea, through which some $5 trillion of cargo passes annually.
Pointing out that China and the Philippines were traditionally friendly neighbors, Hua said the two countries should make joint efforts to improve bilateral ties, resume dialogue and cooperation, and promote the sound and stable development of relations.
China’s coast guard vessels routinely sail around the islands, usually two to four at a time.
In Hong Kong, former President Fidel Ramos said he plans to meet Wu Shicun, who heads the National Institute for South China Sea Studies, a think-tank based on China’s southern island of Hainan, among other experts and officials.
Beijing denies the accusations and says United States patrols have ramped up tensions.
The hangars were constructed on Fiery Cross, Subi and Mischief Reefs, part of the Spratly Islands.
Most believe it is a move created to project military power across the region and undermine US dominance.
According to CISIS, all hangars show signs of structural strengthening.
Mr Ramos emphasised the long history of exchanges and close relationship between China and the Philippines in culture and people- to-people communication, adding that Chinese people discovered the Philippines more than 100 years before the Europeans did, Xinhua news agency reported yesterday.
While China may argue that these structures are for civilian use, “they are far thicker than you would build for any civilian objective”, CSIS Asian Maritime Transparency Initiative Director Gregory Poling told The New York Times.
China’s ambassador to Japan urged Japan’s foreign minister, Fumio Kishida, to resolve East China Sea dispute with diplomacy.
In 2012, China seized the Scarborough Shoal, denying Philippine fishermen access to a rich fishing ground, and prompting Manila to file the arbitration case.
While China has grown increasingly irritated over North Korea’s nuclear and missile tests, it vehemently opposes South Korea’s decision to host a Terminal High Altitude Area Defence (THAAD) unit with the USA military.
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Chinese H-6K bombers and Su-30 fighters have completed a patrol of airspace above the Nansha and Huangyan islands in the South China Sea, said a Chinese military spokesperson Saturday adding that the manoeuvers included aerial refuelling.
