image-1 = images/SouthChinaSea/Photo1.jpg
title-1 =
description-1 = Woody Island, the largest of the Paracel Islands and part of the Amphitrite group. The island has been under control of China since 1956, with a population of over 1,000 people. The island's ownership is disputed and is also claimed by Taiwan and Vietnam. (File image)
status-1 = 1
image-2 = images/SouthChinaSea/Photo2.jpg
title-2 =
description-2 = China has been upgrading Woody Island's facilities, including radar systems and military infrastructure, since 2012, and in 2015 constructed a brand new airstrip and has deployed fighter jets to the island for years to flex its military muscle and signal its aerial power projection. (Image credit - Paul Spijkers)
status-2 = 1
image-3 = images/SouthChinaSea/Photo3.jpg
title-3 =
description-3 = A map of the various national outposts in the Spratly Islands, providing an idea of the split between the area, with Taiwan, the Philippines, China and Vietnam all laying claims to parts of the region. (Map provided to public domain by CIA)
status-3 = 1
image-4 = images/SouthChinaSea/Photo4.jpg
title-4 =
description-4 = A map of the claims in the South China Sea, and boundary agreements. (Map provided to public domain by US Department of Defense)
status-4 = 1
image-5 = images/SouthChinaSea/Photo5.jpg
title-5 =
description-5 = An aerial image of the redevelopment of Fiery Cross Reef, which was occupied by China in 1988 after it was asked to construct a UNESCO Marine observation station there. Beijing commenced reclamation activity in the area in 2014, with it converted to a 274-hectare artificial island. (Image credit - US Navy)
status-5 = 1
image-6 = images/SouthChinaSea/Photo6.jpg
title-6 =
description-6 = An image showing some of the city of Sansha on Woody Island. Sansha has a small population of over 1,000, but is responsible for the administration of 260 islands, reefs and beaches in the Spratlys, Paracel, Xisha and Zhongsha Islands. (Image credit - AFP)
status-6 = 1
image-7 = images/SouthChinaSea/Photo7.jpg
title-7 =
description-7 = An aerial view of the construction of Mabini Reef in the Spratly Islands. The reef has been occupied by China since 1988, but it is also claimed by Vietnam. Since 2014, China's reclamation process expanded the reef to include a military and radar base, as well as a small harbour. (Image credit - Armed Forces of the Philippines)
status-7 = 1
image-8 = images/SouthChinaSea/Photo8.jpg
title-8 =
description-8 = An image of Fiery Cross Reef highlighting the construction of infrastructure in 2017. According to the US Center for Strategic and International Studies, it is the "most advanced of China's bases" in the South China Sea, with the ability to accommodate 24 combat aircraft and four larger planes. (Image credit - AP)
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image-9 = images/SouthChinaSea/Photo9.jpg
title-9 =
description-9 = Satellite image from CSIS showing a J-11 fighter aircraft stationed on Woody Island. (Image credit - CSIS/AMTI/Digital Globe)
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image-10 = images/SouthChinaSea/Photo10.jpg
title-10 =
description-10 = Satellite image from Deimos Imaging highlighting the facilities on Woody Island, including berm structures and camouflaged facilities. (Image credit - Deimos Imaging)
status-10 = 1
image-11 = images/SouthChinaSea/Photo11.jpg
title-11 =
description-11 = Southwest Cay, an islet in the Spratly Islands in the South China Sea, is another disputed island in the region, occupied by Vietnam but claimed by China, Taiwan and the Philippines. (Image credit - AP)
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Photo Essay: China’s island fortresses
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With China deploying J-10 fighter jets to the contested Woody Island, Beijing is sending a message to the rest of the world as tensions remain high in the South China Sea.
With China deploying J-10 fighter jets to the contested Woody Island, Beijing is sending a message to the rest of the world as tensions remain high in the South China Sea.
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Over the past few years, China has continued a number of redevelopments on contested islands in the South China Sea, including Woody Island, Fiery Cross Reef, Mabini Reef, as well as the Spratly Islands.
The growing assertiveness in the region from Beijing has been a cause for concern for the United Nations and regional nations, with China showing a blatant disregard for international convention in doing so.
The latest move by China has again raised eyebrows, with the deployment of the J-10s marking the first time those aircraft have been seen deployed on Woody Island, or any Chinese-controlled islands in the SCS.
Speaking to Defence Connect last year, Dr Malcolm Davis of the Australian Strategic Policy Institute said, "2018 has been an interesting year in the South China Sea. It started fairly early on with the basing of anti-ship cruise missiles on reclaimed islands in the SCS, the basing of the upgraded, H-6K nuclear capable bomber on Woody Island and more recently the USS Decatur (DDG-73) incident really reinforces that China is not backing down from its territorial ambitions."
We will highlight some of the island fortresses China has established in the South China Sea, including descriptive maps of the region as provided by the US Department of Defense and the CIA.
Please scroll through the photo gallery above for these images.
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