Surface-To-Air Missiles Deployed In South China Sea By China

The government of Taiwan revealed that surface-to-air missiles were deployed by China on one of the islands in the South China Sea. A Taiwanese Defense Ministry statement indicated that first-hand intelligence confirmed the presence of missile batteries in the Paracel chain, which is one of a part of the disputed islands in the region.

The statement indicated that the Taiwanese Defense Ministry learned that the surface-to-air missiles were deployed by China on the Woody Island of the Paracel group of islands. It added that it is currently monitoring any developments in the region. The statement added that the Taiwanese Defense is calling for cooperation among all parties involved to ensure peace and stability in the South China Sea and prevent the escalation of tension in the region.

On the other hand, a spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China told reporters during a briefing that the developments made by China in the region were peaceful. Honglei, spokesperson for the ministry, said they have continuously stated their stance of providing additional public service to the international community through its construction on the islands. The spokesperson added that they are also aiming to facilitate rescue medical and fishery operations.

Surface-To-Air Missiles Deployed In South China Sea By China - image credit: cnn.com

The facilities can be utilized by the international community whenever necessary, Honglei said. The spokesperson added that they want to emphasize that the military facilities installed on the islands are mainly for self-defense, which is a right for China based on international law. The installation will have no effect on overflight and the freedom of navigation given to all countries under international law.

An earlier statement from President Barack Obama of the United States called for an end to the militarization of the region. Obama called for a halt to all reclamation, construction and militarization activities in the oceans of Asia during a meeting with leaders from Southeast Asian countries in California. It was an indirect reference to the construction activities of China in the South China Sea.

A number of countries have developed other islands in the region, including the construction of airstrips with the capability of handling military aircraft.

Posted by James Fried on Wednesday February 17 2016, 9:53 AM EST. All trademarks acknowledged. Filed under Uncategorized. Comments and Trackbacks closed. Follow responses: RSS 2.0