China warships, planes sighted at PH-claimed reefs since 2017
Excerpt
Chinese warships and aircraft have been frequenting Philippine territory in the Spratly archipelago since 2017, indicating a steady pace of development toward “operational status” of Beijing’s military bases in the hotly contested South China Sea. Missile-equipped vessels were seen last year near Philippine reefs in the Spratlys, which China had turned into artificial islands. Surveillance images obtained by Inquirer.net showed a Luoyang Jiangwei II-class frigate (Hull No. 527) at Zamora Reef, known internationally as Subi Reef, last Nov. 15. This vessel is said to be armed with short-range surface-to-air missiles and antiship cruise missiles.
Citation
Mangosing, F. G., & Andrade, J. I. (2018, May 15). China warships, planes sighted at PH-claimed reefs since 2017. Philippine Daily Inquirer, pp. A1, A6.
Associated content
Online versionSubject
Defence craft; Disputes; Territorial waters; Military operations; Artificial islands; Aircraft; Satellite mosaics; Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA); Chinese Coast Guard (CCG); University of the Philippines Institute for Maritime Affairs and Law of the Sea; Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative (AMTI); People’s Liberation Army Air Force; Batongbacal, Jay; Galvez, Carlito; China; Philippines; South China Sea; Spratly Islands; Zamora Reef; Subi Reef; Panganiban Reef; Mischief Reef; Kagitingan Reef; Fiery Cross Reef
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- Philippine Daily Inquirer [1548]