China Lands Test Flight in Disputed Island Chain

[dichoi]

I think that was the commercial jet but I am wondering if it was an ARJ-21 though there was fewer number of windows on the landed plane

The Chinese description was about the website

Hereunder the reply from our FM

Test flight to South China Sea reef 'within sovereignty': FM
(China Daily) 09:20, January 03, 2016

This satellite image shows the Yongshu Jiao of China's Nansha Islands. (Photo/Xinhua)


Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Hua Chunying has dimissed Hanoi's accusation about the test flight to newly-built airport on Yongshu Jiao of China's Nansha Islands.

The Vietnamese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson made a statement on Saturday,expressing Vietnam's protest
against China's test flight to a newly-built airport on Yongshu Jiao of the Nansha Islands.

In response, Hua said that China has finished building a new airport on Yongshu Jiao ofChina's Nansha Islands.

"The Chinese government conducted a test flight to the airport with a civil aircraft in order to test whether or not the facilities on it meet the standards for civil aviation.Relevant activity falls completely within China's sovereignty," Hua said.

China has indisputable sovereignty over the Nansha Islands and their adjacent waters,and the Chinese side "will not accept the unfounded accusation from the Vietnamese side", Hua said.

The spokeswoman also noted that "the China-vietnam relationship, on the whole, isriding a momentum of development".

"It is hoped that the Vietnamese side can work with China in the same direction and make concrete efforts to sustain the sound and stable growth of bilateral ties," she said.

Test flight to South China Sea reef 'within sovereignty': FM - People's Daily Online

Scroll down and read the comment section of the link. This is a gem of all comments for China

View attachment 284901


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Stop lying here. 1887 agreement related to Beipu Guft only. So Bach Long Vy island does belong to Vietnam.

 

[Keel]

There is evident for expansionism of China. Man made island is illegal under rules of International law.

Anything new?

China, Vietnam collide over South China Sea claims - CNN.com
May 12, 2014


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Yup, Great News and smart landing too and did it look like an ARJ landing? if not what was it?

Probably a Bombardier CRJ 700ER

 

[bobsm]

New airfield to boost public service in South China Sea: Chinese official
English.news.cn 2016-01-05 01:00:47

BEIJING, Jan. 4 (Xinhua) -- A newly-built airfield on a reef in the South China Sea will help ensure flight and navigation safety for airplanes and ships in the area and greatly improve the ability of marine salvagers, a Chinese official said Monday.

China has finished building the airfield on Yongshu Jiao in China's Nansha Islands, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying confirmed Saturday.

The South China Sea has long been a very important seaway connecting China and the rest of the world, as well as a sea corridor between the Pacific and Indian Ocean, said Pan Wei, chief engineer of China Rescue and Salvage under the Ministry of Transport.

"The severe shortage of navigation safety facilities, emergency rescue forces and equipment to deal with oil spills in the South China Sea has impeded the navigation security and economic and social development in the area," Pan said.

The lighthouses on Huayang and Chigua reefs, which went into operation in October 2015, have filled a gap in civil navigation facilities and significantly improved navigation safety in the South China Sea, the official said.

"The lighthouses provide vessels from various countries with sailing directions, safety information, emergency assistance and other public services, reducing navigation risks and marine accidents," Pan said.

As a responsible country, China will continue promoting the building of emergency response and rescue facilities in an effort to shoulder the international obligations of search and rescue operations, marine environmental protection, disaster prevention and reduction, and navigation safety in the South China Sea, the official said.

The lighthouses on Huayang and Chigua reefs are the start of the nation's efforts to construct civilian facilities for guiding and aiding navigation in the South China Sea, Pan said.

The airfield on Yongshu Jiao of China's Nansha Islands will enhance the navigation safety in the busy sea lane.

Nearly 40 percent of global trade is carried through the South China Sea, which sees the passage of at least 40,000 ships annually.

Despite the significant role it plays, the security situation in the South China Sea is complicated. This was partially highlighted by the global search for Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 in March 2014 as problems including lack of infrastructure, weak rescue forces and insufficient public services in the area undermined the timeliness of emergency response and assistance.

Waters surrounding the Nansha Islands in the South China Sea are filled with busy shipping lanes and fishing activity. But since they are far from the Chinese mainland, immediate responses to shipwrecks, natural disasters or pirate attacks are difficult. On these occasions, the authorities will be unable to protect personnel in danger and help the ships and airplanes in the area, Pan said.

The airfield on Yongshu Jiao will significantly reduce the travel time from the Chinese mainland to Nansha Islands, changing the old reliance on vessels for transportation and rescue.

According to Pan, the airfield will also provide more convenient transportation for the residents on the islands and the personnel who are safeguarding the islands and reefs.

New airfield to boost public service in South China Sea: Chinese official
- Xinhua | English.news.cn

 

[biendong]

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Japan, US voice concern over China’s test flight
VNA MONDAY, JANUARY 04, 2016 - 16:38:18

Hanoi (VNA) – Japan and the US have expressed their concern over China’s testing landing of a plane on an airstrip illegally built on Chu Thap (Fiery Cross) Reef in Vietnam’s Truong Sa (Spratly) archipelago.

Japan’s Kyodo News Agency quoted Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida as saying at a press briefing on January 4 that Japan is gravely concerned about China's act, which is a unilateral change of the status quo in the East Sea as well as the attempt to make Beijing's massive and fast-paced land reclamation work in the seas “a fait accompli.”

Japan cannot accept the act which is escalating tensions in the region, he said, noting that Japan will continue to cooperate with other countries concerned to protect the freedom of the seas.

The US State Department’s Spokeswoman Pooja Jhunjhunwala was also quoted by Reuters on January 2 as saying that the flight has exacerbated tensions.

She called on relevant sides to actively reduce tensions by refraining from unilateral actions that undermine regional stability, and taking steps to create space for meaningful diplomatic solutions to emerge.

Responding to China’s test flight, Vietnamese Foreign Minister Spokesperson Le Hai Binh on January 2 said the act seriously violates Vietnam’s sovereignty over Truong Sa archipelago and runs counter to the common perception reached by the two countries’ high-ranking leaders, the agreement on basic principles guiding the settlement of Vietnam – China issues at sea and the spirit of the 2002 Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea.

It has undermined peace and stability in the East Sea, eroded bilateral political trust and negatively impacted the neighbourliness and good sentiments between the two peoples, he added.

Vietnam resolutely protests against China’s pilot flight and asks the country to immediately end, not to repeat such an action and take practical and specific acts to contribute to maintaining peace, stability, security, maritime and aviation safety and freedom in the East Sea, Binh said.-VNA

 

[TaiShang]

A newly-built airfield on a reef in the South China Sea will help ensure flight and navigation safety for airplanes and ships in the area and greatly improve the ability of marine salvagers, a Chinese official said Monday.

China is distributing public goods like sugar candies but some spoiled kids on the block just sulk and sit out.

 

[qwerrty]

 

[TaiShang]

Really looks very neat. Like those developed by Japan, which is a good benchmark as far as island development is concerned.

 

[Tiqiu]

Awesome picture. It will make monkeyboys cry and many sleepless nights for them for sure. I want more.

 

[Solomon2]

...The island itself is cheap, it's the structure and equipment that's expensive.

What can China do with these islands, anyway? Other than wave them around as a ready excuse for war, that is?

 

[Beidou2020]

@F-22Raptor

Just when exactly is the US military going to bomb these islands with those power projection capabilities you talk of.

 

[Sheikh Rauf]

Amazing islands.... they sud put some trees around grass .. then you wont feel middle of no where.
good luck China.

 

[Spectre]

What can China do with these islands, anyway? Other than wave them around as a ready excuse for war, that is?

Quite elementary actually, it serves no purpose other than being an another cog in it's war machinery. Almost all countries have such strategic assets which are economically a drain but all the same an important hedging tool.

Regards

 

[DoTell]

@F-22Raptor US military powerless to stop China militarising the islands.

Quite elementary actually, it serves no purpose other than being an another cog in it's war machinery. Almost all countries have such strategic assets which are economically a drain but all the same an important hedging tool.

Regards

Oh how insightful! Why don't you tell that to your Vietnamese pals so they can stop crying over such useless island. Or tell the Americans to stop worrying about "freedom of navigation"

 

[qwerrty]

Awesome picture. It will make monkeyboys cry and many sleepless nights for them for sure. I want more.

higher res
http://i.cubeupload.com/QE1iX7.jpg
http://i.cubeupload.com/am8uJK.jpg
http://i.cubeupload.com/lmORQm.jpg

 

[21stCentury]

What's there to even protest about? thought these islands are for just for show? Wrong! China will fully utilize all its newly formed islands for civilian research operations and also for full-blown military functionality; they all have full size airstrips after all...