Beijing places missile launchers on disputed South China Sea island

Tensions in the region could rise after satellite images appear to show two batteries of eight missile launchers and a radar system on Woody Island

Chinese construction on the disputed Spratly Islands in the South China Sea. Beijing is reported to have now placed missiles on the nearby Paracel Island chain which it also claims as sovereign territory. Photograph: DIGITALGLOBE/AFP/Getty Images

Daniel Hurst

China has placed surface-to-air missile equipment on one of the disputed islands in the South China Sea, newly published satellite images appear to show.

Live South China Sea dispute: Beijing places missile launchers on island – live

China places surface-to-air missile equipment in disputed Paracel islands in the South China Sea, according to reports, raising fears of increased tensions among nations with competing claims over the region

Tensions in the region could rise after two batteries of eight missile launchers and a radar system were deployed to Woody Island in the past week according to images taken by the private company ImageSat International.

The images were first published by Fox News.

The missile move has been confirmed by Taiwan which also claims sovereignty of the island.

Maj Gen David Lo told Reuters news agency that Taiwan “will closely watch subsequent developments.”

“Interested parties should work together to maintain peace and stability in the South China Sea region and refrain from taking any unilateral measures that would increase tensions.”

An image dated 14 February showed the presence of the equipment, whereas the same area looked to be empty in an image dated 3 February.

Fox News cited a US official as saying the images appeared to show the HQ-9 air defence system, which had a range of about 125 miles (200km) and could therefore threaten any nearby planes.

The US Department of Defence gave a statement to the Guardian when asked about the missile move.

“While I cannot comment on matters related to intelligence, we do watch these matters very closely.

“The United Sates continues to call on all claimants to halt land reclamation, construction, and militarisation of features in the South China Sea.”

A US navy destroyer sailed close to the disputed Paracel Island chain, which includes Woody Island, in a “freedom of navigation” exercise late last month. China, Taiwan and Vietnam have competing claims in the area and the US has objected to any “militarising” of the islands.

China branded that action as “highly dangerous and irresponsible” and accused the US of being “the biggest cause of militarisation in the South China Sea”.

Barack Obama, who is hosting a meeting of Asean leaders in California, said on Tuesday that freedom of navigation must be upheld and lawful commerce should not be impeded.

South China Sea: US bomber angers Beijing with Spratly islands flypast

“The US will continue to fly, sail and operate wherever international law allows,” he said. “We will support the right of other countries to do the same.”

The Chinese foreign minister, Wang Yi, is due to address the media in Beijing on Wednesday alongside his Australian counterpart, Julie Bishop, who is in the capital for annual strategic talks.

Bishop said before the trip that she intended to question China about its activitiesin the South China Sea.

At a press conference at the Chinese Foreign Ministry on Tuesday, spokesman Hong Lei said: “Deploying necessary national defence facilities on its own territory is China’s exercise of self-preservation and defence, a right granted by international law to sovereign states.

South China Sea dispute: British ambassador steps into row over pilot 'intimidation'

“It does not impede freedom of navigation and overflight in the South China Sea that all countries are entitled to under international law.”

Four Armed Robbery Suspects Killed In Shootout With Police In Songwe

“This is Vwawa Bus Stand, where the incident occurred in which armed robbers shot and killed a security guard before fleeing with various items.” Songwe. Four suspected armed robbers have been shot dead following a confrontation with police in Songwe Region after allegedly being involved in a violent raid on a mobile phone and financial services shop in Vwawa town, Mbozi District, in which a security guard was killed. According to a statement issued today, December 30, 2025, by the Songwe Regional Police Commander, Senior Assistant Commissioner of Police (SACP) Augustino Senga, the incident occurred at around 3:30 a.m. The suspects reportedly stormed the shop, owned by businessman Gabriel Msemwa, at the Vwawa main bus stand, killed the guard, William Mwampashi (45), and fled with assorted items. The deceased suspects have been identified as Bruce Mwasenga, Eliuta Mapunda, Abdul Chiba, and Justine, known by a single name. SACP Senga said police immediately launched intensive, inte...

JAB Yawasogeza Huduma Waandishi Iringa, Yaomba Ushirikiano Kudhibiti Waandishi Wasioidhinishwa

Iringa. Bodi ya Ithibati ya Waandishi wa Habari (JAB) imeendelea na jitihada za kusogeza huduma zake kwa waandishi wa habari nchini, safari hii ikifika katika Klabu ya Waandishi wa Habari Iringa (Iringa Press Club – IPC), ikiwa ni sehemu ya mkakati wa kuboresha tasnia ya habari na kulinda taaluma ya uandishi wa habari. Akizungumza wakati wa kikao na waandishi wa habari mkoani Iringa, Kaimu Mkurugenzi Mkuu wa Bodi ya Ithibati ya Waandishi wa Habari (JAB), Wakili Patrick Kipangula, amesema lengo la ziara hiyo ni kutoa elimu kuhusu majukumu ya bodi, mchakato wa ithibati pamoja na kusikiliza changamoto zinazowakabili waandishi wa habari ngazi ya mikoa. Wakili Kipangula amesema bado kuna changamoto ya uwepo wa watu wanaojihusisha na shughuli za uandishi wa habari bila kuwa na ithibati halali, hali inayochafua tasnia na kuhatarisha maadili ya kazi hiyo nyeti. “Tunawaomba waandishi wa habari kushirikiana na Bodi kwa kuwafichua watu wanaojitambulisha kama waandishi bila kuwa na ithiba...

MUCE IMPLEMENTS SH18.6 BILLION PROJECT IN HONOUR OF FATHER OF THE NATION’S VISION

Iringa. As Tanzania marks 26 years since the passing of the Father of the Nation, Mwalimu Julius Kambarage Nyerere — a passionate advocate for education — Mkwawa University College of Education (MUCE), a constituent college of the University of Dar es Salaam (UDSM), continues to successfully implement the Higher Education for Economic Transformation (HEET) Project worth over Sh18.6 billion. Speaking to journalists in Iringa, MUCE Principal Prof Method Samwel Semiono said the project, implemented by the government through the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, aims to reform the higher education system so it can directly contribute to the country’s economic transformation. “The five-year project (2021/2022–2025/2026) is funded by the World Bank and focuses on curriculum improvement, infrastructure development, human resource capacity building, inclusive education and gender equality, as well as promoting the use of ICT and digital learning,” explained Prof Semiono. He no...

PAMLOMO-SAUTI YA JAMII

Search This Blog