UpdateChina close to finishing airstrip on reclaimed South China Sea island: US think tank

China has nearly finished building an airstrip that could be used for military purposes on one of its biggest artificial islands in the disputed South China Sea, according to satellite images released by a US think tank yesterday.

The Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) said images taken on June 28 by DigitalGlobe showed China had almost completed the construction of a 3,000-metre airstrip at Fiery Cross Reef, which China calls Yongshu Reef.

The defence ministry refused to comments on the CSIS report, while foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said she was not aware of its details. On Tuesday, Hua said China's facilities in the disputed waters were built mainly for civilian purposes, but "necessary military defence requirements will also be fulfilled".

CSIS analysts said the satellite images showed that the airstrip had been surfaced and marked, and an apron and taxiway had been added adjacent to the runway. Previous photos showed a small lake in the middle of the island with additional support facilities, including a naval vessel, the analysts said.

It said the facilities on Johnson South Reef, or Chigua Reef in Chinese, now included a small port with limited berth space and two loading stations, two helipads, three possible satellite communication antennae, one large multi-level facility and two possible radar towers. There were also six possible security and surveillance towers for weapons and or sensors, as well as other facilities, raising concerns that Beijing was pushing ahead with its plan to expand its military presence in the area.

China is also appearing to put pressure on Japan in the East China Sea, where it is embroiled in territorial disputes with Tokyo. GlobalDigital said its satellite images also showed China was developing a dozen drone bases in its territorial waters.

A source close to the Fujian military region told the South China Morning Post that the navy had conducted an unprecedented massive drill off its east coast last month, targeting Japan's Maritime Self-Defence Force.