China’s Structures in the South China Sea May House Surface-to-Air Missiles


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On February 22, report indicated that China is close to finishing nearly two dozen structures that are suspected to house long-range surface-to-air missiles on its artificial islands in the South China Sea. Analysts detected the building of these structures with retractable roofs, coupled with military length air-strips on the islands of Subi, Michief, and Fiery Cross reefs in the Spratly Island chain. The structures themselves are said to be 20 meters long, 10 meters high, and resemble other structures that house SAM batteries, said a U.S. intelligence official. This potential escalation of militarization comes after the Trump administration denounced China’s island building in the South China Sea, a territory claimed by several counties, and strategic for its maritime traffic and military positioning.

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Missile Defense Project, "China’s Structures in the South China Sea May House Surface-to-Air Missiles," Missile Threat, Center for Strategic and International Studies, February 22, 2017, last modified June 15, 2018, https://missilethreat.csis.org/chinas-structures-south-china-sea-may-house-surface-air-missiles/.