China announces landing for 1st time of H-6K bomber in Spratlys

From GMA News (May 19): China announces landing for 1st time of H-6K bomber in Spratlys

China's Air Force announced on Friday that it landed a bomber for the first time on its largest base in the South China Sea, located on Woody Island in the Paracel group in the Spratlys.

Social media posts, both on the People's Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) Weibo account, as well as the state-owned People’s Daily Twitter account, shows the long-range bomber landing and taking off from Woody Island.

Also, a post on weibo.com shows an H-6k long-range bomber flying over the Scarborough (Panatag) Shoal, claimed by the Philippines as part of its exclusive economic zone (EEZ).

The Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative had reported of the possible role of Woody Island in China's "eventual" military deployments in the Spratlys.

AMTI also said that China has built large hangars at all three of its “Big 3” outposts in the Spratlys (Subi, Mischief, and Fiery Cross Reefs) that can accommodate bombers like the H-6K (as well as large transport, patrol, and refueling aircraft).

Moreover, it said that H-6K’s combat radius of nearly 1000 nautical miles means bombers taking off from Woody Island could cover the entire South China Sea.

Two days before the reported landing and taking off of H-6K bomber from Woody Island, President Rodrigo Duterte said that he was aware of China's missiles deployment and military assets on its built-up islands in the disputed sea.

But he said there is no point in questioning China's actions there.

"There is an airport. There are missiles there installed. There are military equipment already in place. So what's the point of questioning whether the planes land there or not? There's an airstrip," Duterte said.

International observers, however, said that the landing of H-6K bomber on Woody Island is another recent move by China that further escalates the tension in the region.

http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/news/nation/653920/china-announces-landing-for-1st-time-of-h-6k-bomber-in-spratlys/story/