China has deployed an advanced ground-to-air missile system to one of the disputed artificial islands it controls in the South China Sea, officials in the US and Taiwan said.
Taiwan defense ministry spokesman Major General David Lo told the Reuters news agency on Wednesday February 17th that the missile batteries had been set up on Woody Island, part of the Paracels chain, which is under Chinese control but also claimed by Taiwan and Vietnam.
A US military official also confirmed the “apparent deployment” of the missiles, first reported by Fox News. Images from civilian satellite company ImageSat International show two batteries of eight surface-to-air missile launchers as well as a radar system, according to Fox.
News of the missile deployment came as Obama and leaders of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations wrapped up a summit in California, where they discussed the need to ease tensions in the region but did not include specific mention of China’s pursuit of its claims in the South China Sea.
Al Jazeera’s Marga Ortigas said: “President Obama did say the United States was duty bound to keep the region stable by ensuring freedom of navigation, which meant they would continue with military patrols and flybys. Something like this by China will definitely be seen as a provocative move not just by the United States but all the countries in the region.”
Beijing claims nearly all of the South China Sea, including small islands that are hundreds of kilometres from its southern coast.
Four countries in South-East Asia have unresolved territorial disputes with China over the South China Sea, which has important shipping lanes and potential oil and other natural resources.
Definitely, China is challenging US dominance in South East Asian waters.
Source: Al-Jazeera