The United States Navy has challenged Beijing's claim to most of the South China Sea by sailing its vessels into what China considers its territorial waters. These ‘Freedom of Navigation' operations were first launched in 2017 and have gradually become more frequent and met with censure from Beijing.
CNN has published satellite imagery which appears to show that China has deployed fighter jets to the contested Woody Island in the Parcel Islands, in another apparent bid to assert its extensive maritime claims in the region.
According to the images the broadcaster obtained from the Israel-based firm ImageSat International, at least four Chinese J-10 fighter jets were seen on the island on Wednesday.
The images appear to show that the four fighters were standing in the open near the airstrip crossing Woody Island.
Analysts who examined the photo told CNN the aircraft were not put into hangars on purpose, to be noticed and to send a message that this is China's territory.
Chinese authorities have yet to comment on the report.
Woody Island − the largest of the Paracel archipelago − lies in the northern portion of the South China Sea, some 400 kilometres southeast of China's Hainan Island.
While no one disputes China's rights to Hainan, the Paracel chain, which is currently controlled and administered by Beijing, is also claimed by Taiwan and Vietnam.
Woody Island (known in China as Yongxing) measures only one square mile in size and houses the seat of…
