The Philippines has come within easy reach of China’s top-ofthe-line nuclear strike-capable bomber after the Chinese military demonstrated that it could operate from its artificial islands in the South China Sea, according to security analysts. Upping the ante in the territorial dispute in the region, China’s People’s Liberation Army Air Force (Plaaf) said in a statement on Friday that some of its bombers recently conducted takeoff and landing training “on islands and reefs in the South China Sea in order to improve our ability to ‘reach all territory, conduct strikes at any time and strike in all directions.’” It said the pilot of the H-6K bomber conducted assault training and then carried out takeoffs and landings at an airport in the area, describing the exercise as preparation for “the West Pacific and the battle for the South China Sea.”

Mangosing, F., Avendaño, C. O., & Pazzibugan, D. Z. (2018, May 20). China preps nuke bombers on disputed reefs. Philippine Daily Inquirer, pp. A1, A2.