A civilian aircraft took off from the Meilan Airport of Haikou, capital of south China's Hainan Province, Jan. 6, 2016. China successfully carried out test fights of two civilian aircraft on Wednesday on a newly-built airfield in the Nansha Islands of the South China Sea. 

January 7, 2016

"The Chinese government on Wednesday successfully conducted a test civil flight to an airport on Yongshu Jiao of China's Nansha Islands to ensure the safety of the airport for large airliners and provide options for new alternate airfields and more flexible and cheaper transoceanic flight routes.

Scholars and media in many countries believed that the activity falls completely within China's sovereignty and other countries have no right to interfere, noting that China's move to fulfill its international responsibilities and commitments will be helpful for development and peace in the region."

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http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2016-01/07/c_134986992.htm

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