Chinese missiles appear again on disputed islands in the East Sea
(Baonghean.vn) - A series of Chinese missile systems have reappeared on a disputed island in the East Sea just days after satellite images appeared to show the systems had been relocated.
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| Chinese weapons systems are again present on Phu Lam Island in Vietnam's Hoang Sa archipelago.Photo: AP |
New intelligence images released by ImageSat International (ISI) on June 11 show that Chinese weapons systems are present on Phu Lam Island in Vietnam's Hoang Sa archipelago.
Earlier in June, the ISI organization released images showing that Chinese missile systems were no longer on Phu Lam Island. The images at that time showed that the sandbanks where a large number of missiles were placed appeared to be "empty".
In its initial analysis of China's move of the surface-to-air missile systems, ISI said it was possible that Beijing had simply moved them to another island, or that this was just part of an exercise.
When the images were released, experts were extremely skeptical that the Chinese missile systems had been permanently relocated, suggesting that they were simply being taken for maintenance.
"Due to the effects of salt and humidity leading to corrosion, the H-9 missile systems are brought back to the mainland for periodic maintenance," said Timothy Heath, senior defense analyst at the Rand Corporation.
The sudden "disappearance" of these missiles occurred amid tensions in the East Sea with activities of US warships near disputed islands in the region as well as China sending bombers to Phu Lam Island for the first time.
