New photos of China-made islands in Spratlys show scale of military buildup


Structures on Subi (Zamora) Reef. - PDI

MANILA (Philippine Daily Inquirer/Asia News Network): A new set of highly detailed photographs of China’s man-made islands in the Spratly Islands in the South China Sea captures the scale of its military buildup on these far-flung rocks and reefs, some of them located within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone.

“Some mobile assets (the aircraft, missile boats, and missile launcher trucks) show they are now operating actively as armed bases for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance,” said maritime security expert Jay Batongbacal who examined the photos taken by Getty Images photojournalist Ezra Acayan on Oct 25 likely during a maritime patrol.

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Philippines , Spratlys , expansion , China , military

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