April 14, 2016

"Fox News reported Tuesday that an exclusive satellite image it acquired shows the Chinese military has deployed new fighter jets to Yongxing Island in the South China Sea and has reinforced its advanced surface-to-air missile system on the island. According to the report, the image that has been authenticated by the Pentagon showed two J-11 fighter jets stationed on the island. The J-11 jet, which entered service in 1998, is comparable to the US Airforce's F-15 or Navy F/A-18 Hornet.

Xisha Island has been China's territory since ancient times and is under China's administration now. Yongxing Island is where the Sansha city government is located. Unlike Nansha Island, Xisha has a much simpler situation as China applies its sovereignty effectively there, although Vietnam is making noise with little international impact.

Washington often deliberately confuses Xisha with Nansha Island, trying to paint Xisha as a disputed area. In February, the US pointed fingers at China deploying its HQ-9 missiles on Yongxing Island, blaming China for militarizing the South China Sea."

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http://www.globaltimes.cn/content/978454.shtml

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