China to conduct civilian flights from disputed South China Sea island

PanARMENIAN.Net - China will begin civilian flights to and from a disputed South China Sea island within a year, state media reported on Friday, March 11 as the government expands infrastructure on islands and reefs also claimed by other countries in the region, Reuters reports.

The United States, which has voiced concerns about China's assertive pursuit of territory in the South China Sea, said launching such flights could complicate disputes between rival claimants in the region.

Chinese media said the flights would be to Sansha city, on Woody Island in the Paracel archipelago, China's administrative base for islands and reefs it controls in the South China Sea.

China claims most of the energy-rich waters through which about $5 trillion in ship-borne trade passes every year. Neighbours Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan and Vietnam also have claims.

Two passenger ships and a police vessel are base stations for mobile communications in Sansha, the official Xinhua news agency reported, citing an interview with Mayor Xiao Jie.

The airfield in Sansha and a newer one on Fiery Cross Reef in the Spratly archipelago are expected to boost air traffic services in the region, Xiao added, aiding navigation and surveillance while providing weather and aeronautics information, Reuters says.

A spokeswoman for the U.S. State Department said launching the flights would be "inconsistent with the region’s commitments to exercise restraint from actions that could complicate or escalate disputes."

"China should heed to its prior public commitments to cease land reclamation and militarization on their outposts in the South China Sea, and instead focus on reaching agreement on acceptable behavior in disputed areas," Anna Richey-Allen said.