Satellite images ‘show Beijing has built weapons on all its artificial islands in South China Sea’
US think tanks says advanced systems installed mean Beijing ‘could deploy fighter jets and missiles tomorrow if they wanted’
China appears to have installed weapons on all seven of the artificial islands it built in the South China Sea, according to satellite images released by a US-based think tank, suggesting Beijing may be stepping up preparation for conflict in the disputed waters.
China has repeatedly promised it will not militarise the man-made islands and yesterday said its construction activities were legitimate.
“The necessary military facilities are mainly for self-defence. It is legitimate,” the defence ministry said in a statement posted online. “When someone is flexing muscles at your doorstep, wouldn’t you prepare a slingshot?”
The Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative (AMTI) at the Centre for Strategic and International Studies in the US said it had been tracking for months construction of hexagonal structures on Fiery Cross, Mischief and Subi reefs in the Spratly Islands, where China has already built military-length airstrips. Satellite images captured in November of Hughes and Gaven reefs showed what appeared to be anti-aircraft guns and what were likely to be close-in weapons systems for protection against cruise missile strikes, the centre said.