China/Vietnam/South China Sea: Satellite Images Reveal the Island Runway That is Vietnam's Latest Move in its Escalating Row with Beijing over Influence in the South China Sea

Nov 18, 2016 | Thomas Burrows, Daily Mail.
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Vietnam has extended its runway on an island in the South China Sea also claimed by Beijing in a move that will anger the regional superpower. Satellite images taken this month showed Vietnam had lengthened its runway on Spratly Island from less than 2,500 feet (760 metres) to 3,300 feet, the US-based Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative said in a report. Beijing claims most of the South China Sea and has reclaimed reefs and built airstrips capable of hosting large military planes. Vietnam will likely extend the runway to 4,000 feet in total, AMTI reported