Chinese military plane in Spratlys raises fears

CHINA has deployed a military aircraft to a third outpost in a disputed South China Sea island chain, a move that will alarm rivals who say Beijing has beefed up its military presence in the region.

The Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative published images showing a Shaanxi Y-8 at Subi Reef in the Spratly Islands.

The plane was “designed as a military transport aircraft, but some variants are used for maritime patrol or signals intelligence”, said the think tank. The photographs reveal the first deployment of military aircraft on the island, which hosts one of three runways in the strategically important Spratlys. The AMTI said the deployment should be of concern to the Philippines, which has about 100 civilians and a small military garrison on Thitu Island just 12 nautical miles away.

The United States has warned of “consequences” over reports China has long-range missiles on the islands.