Avast ye mateys! 'Tis said that China be buildin' an airstrip on a wee isle in the South China Sea, which be claimed by Taiwan as well. Arrr!
2023-08-16
Arr, scallywags! 'Tis a tale o' the China folk buildin' an airstrip on a wee island in the South China Sea. Aye, this here piece o' land be claimed by Taiwan an' Vietnam too! Aye, the plot thickens, me hearties!
China is reportedly constructing an airstrip on Triton island, a disputed South China Sea island also claimed by Vietnam and Taiwan. The construction on Triton island is similar to the development of seven other man-made islands in the Spratly group, which have been equipped with airstrips, docks, and military systems. However, the construction on Triton island appears to be more modest in scale. China asserts its claim over the entire South China Sea, disregarding the claims of other countries and defying an international ruling that invalidated its assertion.Satellite photos analyzed by The Associated Press show that the construction on the airstrip became visible in early August. The current layout of the runway suggests that it would be long enough to accommodate turboprop aircraft and drones, but not fighter jets or bombers. The photos also reveal vehicle tracks, containers, and construction equipment on the island.
Triton island is one of the main islands in the Paracel group, situated between Vietnam and China's island province of Hainan. The United States does not take a stance on the sovereignty claims but regularly conducts "freedom of navigation operations" near the Chinese-held islands. China has had a presence on Triton island for years, with a small harbor, buildings, a helipad, and radar arrays. The island features symbols of the Chinese flag and the ruling Communist Party.
China has refused to provide detailed information about its island construction work, claiming it is for global navigation safety. It denies accusations that it is militarizing the South China Sea and asserts its right to do as it pleases in its sovereign territory. China took control of the Paracels from Vietnam in a naval conflict in 1974.