In an exclusive report by Reuters on May 28th, satellite images showed that in May this year, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) deployed two long-range bombers on the disputed Paracel Islands in the South China Sea. This marked the first time since 2020 that long-range H-6 bombers have landed on Woody Island in the Paracels.
Images provided by Maxar Technologies to Reuters revealed that on May 19th, two H-6 bombers were parked on the runway of Woody Island. On the same day, another photo from Maxar showed two Y-20 transport planes and an KJ-500 airborne early warning aircraft also on Woody Island.
Some analysts suggest that these aircraft may have arrived on May 17th and stayed until May 23rd.
The CCP’s escalation in deploying bombers in the South China Sea comes at a time of heightened tensions between China and the Philippines, the first anniversary of President Tsai Ing-wen’s inauguration in Taiwan, and the upcoming Shangri-La Dialogue, one of the major international defense forums in Asia this weekend.
French President Macron is set to deliver a speech in Singapore on Friday to kick off the three-day Shangri-La Dialogue forum. US Defense Secretary will outline the Trump administration’s policy for the region on Saturday.
Diplomats anticipate the rare deployment of a British aircraft carrier in the South China Sea next month. Satellites also captured two CCP H-6 bombers flying over the similarly disputed Scarborough Shoal in the South China Sea.
Regional diplomats and analysts highlight the significance of the H-6 deployment because these bombers are capable of carrying anti-ship and land-attack cruise missiles.
Ben Lewis, founder of the open-source data platform PLATracker, believes that the H-6 bombers are unlikely to be permanently stationed on Woody Island.
According to the International Institute for Strategic Studies based in London, the CCP’s Southern Theatre Command covering the South China Sea has two bomber divisions, usually stationed at heavily fortified bases on the mainland.
The U.S. has fighter jet squadrons based in Japan and Guam, which is also home to B-52 bombers.
Furthermore, three regional security officials and military activity documents reviewed by Reuters indicate that since early May, China has deployed a larger fleet than usual in the vicinity of Taiwan, southern Japanese islands, the East China Sea, and the South China Sea, including navy, coast guard, and other vessels.
The documents show that the Shandong aircraft carrier is currently in a busy maritime route in the South China Sea.
Roy Vincent Trinidad, a spokesperson for the Philippine Navy on South China Sea issues, told Reuters that the CCP’s “illegal presence” in Southeast Asian waters disrupts the peace in the region.
A post by the Malaysian Navy on social media revealed that on Sunday, May 25th, the U.S. aircraft carrier Nimitz and destroyer Curtis Wilbur concluded their visit to a Malaysian port. This visit marked the first overseas visit for the Nimitz strike group and its second deployment, the first being to Guam. At midnight local time, AIS data showed the two warships sailing east through the Singapore Strait towards the South China Sea. Prior to visiting the Malaysian port, the Nimitz strike group had been conducting operations in the South China Sea.
Beijing claims sovereignty over nearly the entire South China Sea, including regions claimed by Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan, and Vietnam. In 2016, an international tribunal ruled that Beijing’s comprehensive claim had no legal basis under international law, but China refused to accept the ruling.