A distant archipelago in the South China Sea has derive under anextraordinary amount of examination lately . Here , China is building up small reef and atolls into whole stilted islands — all in hotly disputed dominion . In the decipherable sign yet of its military intentions , one of those islandsnow has an flight strip .
planet image taken on March 23 andfirst published by IHS Janeshow the evolution of Fiery Cross Reef , one of the many radar target that make up the Spratly Islands . Just a few months ago , Fiery Cross Reef was , true to its name , a submerged reefjust barely poking above the weewee . Since then , dredging has turned it into an contrived island . It now has a harbor and and a runway in advance .
The 10,000 - foot runway would be long enough for fighter jets and spy planes , according to theNew York Times , which calls it a “ plot record changer . ” Once China has air control of the South China Sea , it ’ll have a peck more power in the area .
This all count because at least five countries put down claim to various part of the South China . The disputed water hold valuable shipping routes and huge oil and gas reserve . China has been eager to exert its authorisation bybuilding up multiple reefsinto islands to pad its claim . And now it ’s clearly ready its armed services . [ IHS Jane , New York Times ]
image : CNES 2015 , Distribution Airbus DS / Spot Image / IHS
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