Golez: China ignores growing condemnation of its test flights on artificial islands in the South China Sea.
China lands more planes on its man-made island in the disputed South China Sea, sparking fears it will impose an 'air defence zone' over the area
- Two civilian test flights landed on Fiery Cross Reef in the Spratly Islands
- Pictures show Chinese people holding banner and waving on the tarmac
- The Spratly Islands chain is claimed by China, Vietnam and the Philippines
- United States fears China plans to its artificial islands for military purposes
China drew further condemnation today after landing two civilian planes on an artificial island in the disputed South China Sea.
The test flights touched down yesterday on the Fiery Cross Reef in the Spratly Islands chain four days after its first landing on the 3km runway sparked an international outcry.
Pictures released by China's state news agency Xinhua showed dozens of people holding a banner and waving on the tarmac in what it described as 'our country's most southern airport.'
The Philippines denounced the flights and warned that if China was not challenged it was likely to impose an 'unacceptable' air defence zone over the area.
Land grab: Dozens of people hold a banner and wave after China landed two more civilian test flights on an artificial island in the disputed South China Sea, drawing further condemnation from neighbouring countries
'Unacceptable': The test flights touched down yesterday on the Fiery Cross Reef in the Spratly Islands chain four days after its first landing on the 3km runway sparked an international outcry
'Provocative actions': A civilian aircraft takes off from the Meilan Airport of Haikou, capital of south China's Hainan Province, on its way to the Fiery Cross Reef in the Spratly Islands chain
China has asserted its claim to almost all of the South China Sea by rapidly building artificial islands including airstrips said to be capable of hosting military jets.
The Spratly Islands chain is claimed by China, Vietnam and the Philippines.
Philippine Foreign Secretary Albert del Rosario said: 'We are very concerned about the fact that China had already flown their flights to Fiery Cross Reef.
'If this is not challenged, we will have a situation where China will take a position that an air defence identification zone could be imposed.'
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3388268/Philippines-says-China-challenged-flights-island.html#ixzz3wcqOiTOQ
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