Tensions surge over China’s Spratly airstrip

China’s first landing of a plane on an artificial reef in the disputed Spratly Islands could lead to a Beijing-controlled air defence zone, sparking tensions with other claimants in the South China Sea

Spratly Islands

Landing by civilian

New construction

CHINA

TAIWAN

plane on

Fiery

SOUTH

CHINA

SEA

on

Cross Reef

Jan 2 was first use

of runway by China

in disputed region

VIETNAM

Chinese

claim line

Cement

plant

PHILIPPINES

400km

MALAYSIA

250 miles

FIERY CROSS REEF

3,110m long,

Runway:

can handle long-range

bombers, fighter jets

and transport planes

Military harbour

Large enough

for tankers and

naval vessels

Antenna

array

Ongoing

construction

500m

0.3 miles

Runway markings

Helipad markings

Seawall construction

Sources: CSIS, wire agencies

Pictures: Getty Images

© GRAPHIC NEWS

Tensions surge over China’s Spratly airstrip

China’s first landing of a plane on an artificial reef in the disputed Spratly Islands could lead to a Beijing-controlled air defence zone, sparking tensions with other claimants in the South China Sea

Spratly Islands

Landing by civilian

400km

CHINA

250 miles

TAIWAN

plane on

Fiery

on

Cross Reef

SOUTH

CHINA

SEA

Jan 2 was first use

of runway by China

in disputed region

VIETNAM

New construction

PHILIPPINES

Chinese

claim line

MALAYSIA

FIERY CROSS REEF

500m

Cement

plant

0.3 miles

3,110m long,

Runway:

can handle long-range

bombers, fighter jets

and transport planes

Antenna

array

Military

harbour

Large enough

for tankers and

naval vessels

Ongoing

construction

Runway

markings

Helipad markings

Seawall construction

Pictures: Getty Images

Sources: CSIS, wire agencies

© GRAPHIC NEWS

Tensions surge over China’s Spratly airstrip

China’s first landing of a plane on an artificial reef in the disputed Spratly Islands could lead to a Beijing-controlled air defence zone, sparking tensions with other claimants in the South China Sea

400km

CHINA

250 miles

TAIWAN

SOUTH

CHINA

SEA

VIETNAM

PHILIPPINES

Chinese

claim line

MALAYSIA

Spratly Islands: Landing by civilian

plane on

on Jan 2

Fiery Cross Reef

was first use of runway by China in

disputed region

FIERY CROSS REEF

3,110m long, can handle

Runway:

long-range bombers, fighter jets and

transport planes

500m

0.3 miles

Antenna

array

Military

harbour

Large enough

for tankers and

naval vessels

Runway

Helipad markings

markings

Seawall

construction

New

construction

Pictures: Getty Images

Sources: CSIS,

wire agencies

© GRAPHIC NEWS