China is using survey ‘scanning ships’ to stake disputed claims in the South China Sea, a US think tank has claimed.
Fears are rising that China may be plotting an invasion of Taiwan, which China has long claimed sovereignty over.
Data analysed by the think tank shows an increase in Chinese vessel activity, which are being used to detect deposits of oil and gas and identify potential hiding places for enemy submarines.
The increase in activity shows China is more active in conducting maritime surveys than previously thought, with some concerned the survey operations could be linked to a possible invasion of Taiwan.
(Image: Getty Images)
The think tank analysis showed the increase in Chinese vessel activity, which is said to be a tool used by China to assert control over the strategic sea lanes of the South China Sea.
The increase of survey ships is also said to show signs of China’s expanding military presence.
About £3.7 trillion ($5 trillion) of international trade is passed through the South China Sea yearly and includes the oil that fuels the economies of Japan, China and South Korea.
(Image: AFP via Getty Images)
There are also territorial reef claims in the area, with The Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Taiwan and Brunei claiming some small islands and reef locations.
Since 2014, Beijing has strengthened its hold on the entire area by concreting over reefs to build military airports equipped with radar, missiles and aircraft.
(Image: X80001)
China had announced new “research stations” during the pandemic that would be placed on Fiery Cross Reef and Subi Reef.
The two geographical features were changed into stationary aircraft carriers with satellite photographs showing that the People’s Liberation Army had built runways and radar.
The Times reported that the two new carriers were also capable of deploying offensive weapons such as combat aircraft and mobile missile launchers.
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Other claimant countries such as Vietnam and Malaysia have, in the past, drilled for oil and natural gas in areas of the South China Sea.
China responded to these survey operations with competing operations of their own, hurrying to those areas to carry out their own vessel operations.
There are fears China is watching Russia’s invasion of Ukraine with a view to performing a similar move on Taiwan.
