China withdrew missiles from South China Sea island ahead of Hague ruling: report
Surface-to-air weapons were probably removed from Woody Island in the Paracels to be shipped back to mainland for maintenance, report says
China removed its new generation surface-to-air missiles from Woody Island in the South China Sea two days ahead an international tribunal ruling on a territorial dispute in the waters, IHS Janes Defence magazine reported, citing satellite images.
The images from Airbus Defence and Space showed a battery of HQ-9 missiles was removed on July 10, two days before the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague rejected Beijing’s claims over the South China Sea, the report said.
The HQ-9s have a range of 200km and can intercept aircraft and incoming missiles.
The report said the missiles, which have been on Woody Island in the Paracels since at least February, were probably shipped back to the mainland for maintenance by a Type 072A landing ship docked in the island’s harbour.
Beijing-based naval expert Li Jie said the possible removal of the HQ-9s could be a response to the Pentagon’s decision to withdraw its USS John C. Stennis carrier from the South China Sea on July 5, showing both Beijing and Washington were keen to reduce the risk of military confrontation.