South China Sea: China Places Missile Launchers On Disputed Island

February 17, 2016 | 05:33 GMT

The Chinese military has deployed an advanced surface-to-air missile system to one of its contested islands in the South China Sea, according to civilian satellite imagery by ImageSat International, Fox News reported Feb. 17. An unnamed U.S. official confirmed the accuracy of the photos. The images show two batteries of eight surface-to-air missile launchers as well as a radar system on Woody Island, part of the Paracel Island chain controlled by China but also claimed by Vietnam and Taiwan. The HQ-9 system, which has a range of 125 miles (200 kilometers), would provide considerable coverage, given that it would be deployed over open water with less obstruction to detection range. Other images released by The Diplomat over the weekend show Chinese island-building work at two sites in the island chain. The move comes as Southeast Asian leaders are meeting with U.S. President Barack Obama at a landmark summit in California