By Patricia Lourdes Viray
MANILA, Philippines — Beijing can now deploy military assets to the Spratly (Kalayaan) Islands in the South China Sea as wraps up construction of infrastructures on the "Big Three"—Subi (Zamora), Mischief (Panganiban) and Fiery Cross (Kagitingan) Reefs.
Washington-based CSIS Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative (AMTI) reported that China's naval, air, radar and defensive facilities in the islands are near completion.
These facilities in the three air bases would allow Beijing to deploy military assets including combat aircraft and mobile missile launchers to the Spratly Islands at any time.
Another facility on Woody Island in the Paracel Islands would allow Chinese military aircraft to operate nearly the entire South China Sea.
"The same is true of China’s radar coverage, made possible by advanced surveillance/early-warning radar facilities at Fiery Cross, Subi and Cuarteron Reefs, as well as Woody Island, and smaller facilities elsewhere," the AMTI said.
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