China Builds An Airstrip On The Paracel Islands

China is allegedly building an airstrip on an island in the South China Sea within the Paracel Islands, which is the subject of sovereignty disputes with Vietnam and Taiwan.
It was claimed that traces of construction were observed on the Chinese-controlled Triton Island and that an airstrip and military facilities were built. Vietnam's Foreign Ministry argued that the work was a violation of the country's sovereignty.
According to the Associated Press (AP), based on satellite photos provided by the company Planet Labs PBC, traces of construction have been observed on the Chinese-controlled Triton Island, located on the southwestern tip of the Paracel Islands, since the beginning of August.
It has been suggested that a 600-meter runway long enough for turbo-powered aircraft and unmanned aerial vehicles to land has been built on the island, as well as ship piers and military facilities.
While two photos taken by the European Space Agency's "Sentinel-2" satellite in February and August underpin the claim, the island, which looks untouched in the old photo, was observed to have a runway extending in an east-west direction, piers, a small artificial harbor, and some buildings and facilities in the recent photo.
The Paracel Islands, which the Chinese called "Shisha" and the Vietnamese called "Hoang Sa", came under Chinese control after a short war between the two countries in 1974.
REACTION FROM VIETNAM
Vietnam's Foreign Ministry argued that the unauthorized construction of the alleged fortification work in the Paracel Islands, where sovereignty disputes are ongoing, is a violation of the country's sovereignty, the Vietnam News reported.
In a press release, Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Pham Thu Hang shared photos showing that China has begun construction of a runway on Triton Island, which is part of the Paracel Islands.
Stating that all activities carried out on the islands without permission from Vietnam are a violation of sovereignty and undermine the maintenance of stability and peace in the region, Spokesman Hang said, "China's strengthening work in the Paracel Islands is a violation of Vietnam's sovereignty."
SOUTH CHINA SEA DISPUTE
The South China Sea has been the subject of sovereignty disputes since the littoral countries gained their independence following the Second World War.
China claims sovereignty over 80 percent of the South China Sea, according to a map first published in 1947. Coastal neighboring countries such as the Philippines, Vietnam, Brunei, and Malaysia also claim the territory.
Sovereignty disputes over islets, reefs, rocks, and sea embankments in the region, especially the Paracel and Spratly Islands, occasionally lead to tensions between countries.
China's construction of military bases on the disputed islands and the long-term maintenance of civilian fleets of ships are opposed by the countries of the region as well as by the United States.