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Construction of an airfield on the disputed Spratly Islands puts Australia in reach of China’s strategic bombers: Reports
Satellite photos reveal the enormous scale of China’s land reclamation and construction work on Firey Cross Reef, part of the disputed Spratly Island chain. Source: Janes
Based in fact ... Renderings such as these have been circulating on Chinese media. Source: Supplied
AN air base being built on a disputed island chain is raising eyebrows as its puts Chinese strategic bombers in range of Australia for the first time.
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analysis of satellite photographs shows China is turning Fiery Cross Reef in the contentious Spratly Islands into an land mass big enough to hold a military air base.The construction work shows China is enforcing its claim on the mineral and oil-rich chain of islands which are also claimed by Taiwan, Malaysia, Vietnam, Brunei and the Philippines. Beijing claims nearly all of the resource-rich South China Sea.
ليس لديك تصريح لمشاهدة الرابط، فضلا قم ب تسجيل الدخول او تسجيل
The vast land reclamation project is one of several pursued by China but the first that could accommodate an airstrip, says US military spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Jeffrey Poole.
“It appears that’s what they’re working toward,” Poole told AFP.
China does not appear to be hiding its intentions.
“It appears that’s what they’re working toward,” Poole told AFP.
China does not appear to be hiding its intentions.
ليس لديك تصريح لمشاهدة الرابط، فضلا قم ب تسجيل الدخول او تسجيل
.
Long reach ... A view of China’s new strategic bomber, the H-6K. Source: PLA
Stepping stone to Australia
If China truly is building an air base — and Janes says land 3km long and 200 to 300m wide has been reclaimed since August is “large enough to construct a runway and apron” — it even has implications for Australia.
Despite being some 3200km distant,
The H-6K, which is based on the Russian Tu-16 “Badger” design from the 1960s, entered service in 2009. China claims it has a combat radius of 3500km. The heavily reworked design is said to have replaced its bomb bay with extra fuel tanks, while six weapons — such as the nuclear capable
The CJ-10A cruise missile can reportedly home-in on targets a further 2000km away.
If China truly is building an air base — and Janes says land 3km long and 200 to 300m wide has been reclaimed since August is “large enough to construct a runway and apron” — it even has implications for Australia.
Despite being some 3200km distant,
ليس لديك تصريح لمشاهدة الرابط، فضلا قم ب تسجيل الدخول او تسجيل
that China’s long range bomber —
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— can deploy with cruise missiles capable of striking “all US military facilities in Australia”.
ليس لديك تصريح لمشاهدة الرابط، فضلا قم ب تسجيل الدخول او تسجيل
The H-6K, which is based on the Russian Tu-16 “Badger” design from the 1960s, entered service in 2009. China claims it has a combat radius of 3500km. The heavily reworked design is said to have replaced its bomb bay with extra fuel tanks, while six weapons — such as the nuclear capable
ليس لديك تصريح لمشاهدة الرابط، فضلا قم ب تسجيل الدخول او تسجيل
cruise missiles — can be slung from pylons beneath the wings.The CJ-10A cruise missile can reportedly home-in on targets a further 2000km away.
Extended range ... The reach of China’s H-6K strategic bomber will extend over much of Australia.
Tensions set to soar
Regardless of the implications for Australia, the construction work is being seen as a further escalation of tensions in the South China Sea.
Janes notes that, in addition to the reclaimed land, significant effort was being put into dredging a deep harbour alongside the reef capable of containing “tankers and major surface combatants”.
“The land reclamation at Fiery Cross is the fourth such project undertaken by China in the Spratly Islands in the last 12-18 months and by far the largest in scope,” the Janes report said.
China already has built islands at Johnson South Reef, Cuateron Reef, and Gaven Reefs, it said.
“Given its massive military advantage over the other claimants in terms of quantity and quality of matériel, this facility appears purpose-built to coerce other claimants into relinquishing their claims and possessions, or at least provide China with a much stronger negotiating position if talks over the dispute were ever held,” IHS Jane’s wrote.
The project is believed to cost about $6 billion and may take up to 10 years to complete.
Regardless of the implications for Australia, the construction work is being seen as a further escalation of tensions in the South China Sea.
Janes notes that, in addition to the reclaimed land, significant effort was being put into dredging a deep harbour alongside the reef capable of containing “tankers and major surface combatants”.
“The land reclamation at Fiery Cross is the fourth such project undertaken by China in the Spratly Islands in the last 12-18 months and by far the largest in scope,” the Janes report said.
China already has built islands at Johnson South Reef, Cuateron Reef, and Gaven Reefs, it said.
“Given its massive military advantage over the other claimants in terms of quantity and quality of matériel, this facility appears purpose-built to coerce other claimants into relinquishing their claims and possessions, or at least provide China with a much stronger negotiating position if talks over the dispute were ever held,” IHS Jane’s wrote.
The project is believed to cost about $6 billion and may take up to 10 years to complete.
Australia in its reach ... The H-6K strategic bomber can fly out to 3500km from its home air base, and the cruise missiles it carries can travel a further 2000km. Source: PLA
ليس لديك تصريح لمشاهدة الرابط، فضلا قم ب تسجيل الدخول او تسجيل
