The runway at the Fiery Cross Reef, one of three China was constructing on artificial islands built up from seven reefs and atolls in the Spratlys archipelago, is shown in this IHS Jane's Satellite Imagery Analysis handout image released on January 4, 2016. REUTERS/CNES 2015. DISTRIBUTION AIRBUS DS / IHS: 1640203/HANDOUT VIA REUTERS
Reuters: China again lands planes on disputed island in South China Sea: Xinhua
China on Wednesday landed two test flights on an island it has built in the South China Sea, four days after it angered Vietnam with a landing on the same runway in the disputed territory, the Xinhua state news agency said.
The two flights are likely to spark further condemnation from Vietnam, which launched a formal diplomatic protest over the weekend, and the Philippines, which said it was planning to do the same.
Both countries have claims to the area that overlap with that of China, which claims almost the whole of the South China Sea.
Xinhua said the two planes landed on an artificial island in the Spratly Islands on Wednesday morning.
WNU editor: This is going to become a regular thing. China has posted some pictures of civilian aircraft landing on this island's runway .... China conducts successful test flights at new airfield in South China Sea (CCTV).
More News On China Continuing To Send Its Aircraft To Its Newly Built Airfield In The South China Sea
China conducts successful test flights at newly-built airfield in South China Sea -- Xinhau
China lands two more planes in disputed South China Sea: state media -- AFP
China lands two more planes on disputed island in South China Sea -- Economic Times
China lands plane on South China Sea man-made island in major escalation -- Washington Times
South China Sea Controversy 2016: Two More Planes Land In Disputed Territory -- IBTimes
China Completes Additional Test Flights in South China Sea -- WSJ
Vietnam and Philippines can go fish. Vietnam began construction of its airstrip on Spratly Island in 1976, making this the first runway in the Spratly island group. In 1978, the Philippines incorporated Thitu Island after airstrip construction had already begun. In 1983, Malaysia built a resort and airstrip atop Swallow Reef. The Nationalist Chinese government occupied Itu Aba in 1946, but did not begin constructing its airstrip until 2006, and construction finished in 2008. China is the most recent Spratly claimant to build an airstrip, which it began on Fiery Cross Reef in late 2014 after it reclaimed the former low-lying feature.
ReplyDeleteVietnam’s Spratly Island airstrip is 550 meters long. The Philippines’ runway on Thitu Island is 1,000 meters long and unpaved. Malaysia’s Swallow Reef airstrip is 1,368 meters long. Taiwan’s recently-renovated runway is 1,195 meters long. China’s Fiery Cross airstrip measures 3,000 meters.
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Thank you for the link Don.
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