BEIJING—China is building an airstrip on an artificially created island in a disputed section of the South China Sea, according to independent analysts, a move the US has warned could raise tensions in the area.
Defense group IHS Jane’s said satellite images of the Fiery Cross Reef taken on March 23 show a runway more than 500 meters long, as well as paved sections of apron. The US says China is carrying out eight such land-reclamation projects in the area.
Jane’s said the island is already big enough for a runway 3,000 meters long that would be able to accommodate air-force planes. China already operates a runway on Woody Island to the west of the Fiery Cross Reef, which is also claimed by Vietnam, the Philippines and Taiwan, and another island it is creating could also be big enough to accommodate a runway.
The airfield construction also was mentioned by the commander of US forces in the Pacific at a congressional hearing on Wednesday. Adm. Samuel Locklear said the reclamation work would allow China to exert more influence in the contested region and possibly deploy military assets such as long-range radar and advanced missile systems.
China claims virtually all of the South China Sea and its island chains. Malaysia and Brunei Darussalam also claim waters and islands in the area.
At a Friday briefing, Foreign Ministry Spokesman Hong Lei defended the island reclamation work, which, China says, is largely to improve living conditions for people in the area and help with weather forecasting and search and rescue work.
Such work is “lawful, justifiable and reasonable. It does not target or impact on any other country and we hope that relevant parties can have a correct understanding on that,” Hong said.
Image credits: CNES, Airbus Defence and Space/IHS Jane’s Defence Weekly via AP , AP/Bullit Marquez