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| China's Artificial Island built on Fiery Cross Reef |
New satellite imagery shows China has apparently installed "significant" defensive weapons on a series of artificial islands it built in the South China Sea, a US-based think tank said Wednesday.
Beijing has created seven islets in the Spratly Islands in recent years, built up from much smaller land protuberances and reefs.
Although Beijing has said it does not intend to militarize the contested waters of the South China Sea, ongoing satellite imagery has shown the installation of military equipment and longer runways.
The latest images, released by the Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative (AMTI), show a series of hexagonal structures now in place on each of the seven islets.
They appear to be large anti-aircraft guns and close-in weapons systems (CIWS), the AMTI said.
Such systems are designed to take out incoming missiles and enemy aircraft.
Read the full story at SpaceDaily