China has deployed fighter aircraft at contested island in South China Sea, say US officials

China has deployed fighter jets to the same contested island in the South China Sea where it has also sent surface-to-air missiles, US officials said.

Fox News, citing two unnamed officials, said US intelligence services had spotted Chinese Shenyang J-11 and Xian JH-7 warplanes on Woody Island in the disputed Paracel Islands chain over the past few days.

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Navy Captain Darryn James, a spokesman for US Pacific Command, confirmed the report, but noted that Chinese fighter jets have previously used the island.

Woody Island, which is also claimed by Taiwan and Vietnam, has had an operational airfield since the 1990s, but it was upgraded last year to accommodate the J-11.

“We are still concerned that the Chinese continue to put advanced arms systems on this disputed territory,” James said.

The move was reported as US Secretary of State John Kerry hosted his Chinese counterpart, Foreign Minister Wang Yi, in Washington.