중국의 남지나해 인공섬 군사기지 China builds fortress in the sea: Satellite images show how Beijing has built massive artificial island..(VIDEO)

China builds fortress in the sea: 

Satellite images show how Beijing has built massive artificial island including helipad and cement plant in just nine months 

Original: The first satellite images, taken in March last year, showed the original 380 square metre platform that work started expanding from. US officials have described China's building expansion in the area as 'unprecedented'

남지나해의 유니온뱅크 휴즈 암초에 만들어진 인공섬 요새의 실체가 드러났다.

군사 전문가들은 대규모의 군대를 지원할 수 있는 기지와 시설들이라고 말한다.

중국 정부는 그동안 남중국해 난사(南沙) 군도의 5개 산호초를 매립해 인공섬으로 

만들어 왔다.

남중국해에 위치한 난사 군도는 풍부한 석유와 가스가 매장되어 있는 곳으로 중국·

대만·베트남·말레이지아·필리핀 등이 현재 영유권 분쟁을 벌이고 있는 지역으로 

중국은 유리한 고지를 차지하기 위해 이 기지를 건설한 것으로 알려졌다.

황기철

콘페이퍼 에디터

 

Island fortress has appeared on Hughes Reef in South China Sea 

Experts say base and facilities can support large numbers of troops

Concerns that government are pursuing military ambitions in the region 

Disputed territory is believed to rich in oil and gas reserves 

[관련보도 Related Article]

중국, 산호초(coral reef) 매립해 인공섬으로 China building artificial island in South China Sea VIDEO

케이콘텐츠 kcontents

By Laurie Hanna For Mailonline 

China has built an island fortress on a disputed reef, raising concerns over their military ambitions in the South China Sea.

Satellite images show that an artificial island with two piers, a helipad and a cement plant has appeared within the past nine months at Hughes Reef in the Spratly Islands.

China, the Philippines, Malaysia, Vietnam and Brunei have all registered claims to the territory, leading to increased military tensions recently.

Progress: Within months, staff had built an artificial island and dredged a channel as they prepared to develop the fort on the disputed Hughes Reef

Concern: The pictures, released by military analysis firm IHS Jane's, show the area has now been expanded to a 75,000 square metre fort amid concern that China can develop its navy, air force, coastguard and fishing fleets in the region

The pictures, released by military analysis firm IHS Jane's, has been expanded from 380 square metres to a 75,000 square metre fort in the Union Banks region.

The reef is approximately 210 miles from the Philippines and 660 miles from China. 

Work originally began in March last year, and by the end of January, the original structure had been connected to the helipad. 

Pictures also showed that similar structures are being built at nearby Johnson South Reef and Gaven Reefs. 

Experts say the fortresses will allow the Chinese government to extend the range of its navy, air force, coastguard and fishing fleets in the region.  

American authorities have repeatedly asked China to stop their building projects in the region, which began after President Xi Jinping came to power three years ago. 

James Hardy, Asia Pacific Editor of IHS Jane's Defence Weekly, said: 'Where it used to have a few small concrete platforms, it now has full islands with helipads, airstrips, harbors and facilities to support large numbers of troops.

Military might: China's President Xi is expected to announce an increase in spending on the military next month

'We can see that this is a methodical, well-planned campaign to create a chain of air and sea capable fortresses across the center of the Spratly Islands chain.'

One western diplomat said: 'These reclamations are bigger and more ambitious than we all thought.

'On many different levels it's going to be exceptionally difficult to counter China in the South China Sea as this develops.'  

Last May, Chinese ships were accused of attacking Vietnamese vessels in the area, which is thought to be rich in oil and gas.

The Chinese have employed workers to build ports and fuel storage depots that experts say would allow Beijing to project power deep into the maritime heart of Southeast Asia.

A senior US official described China's building expansion in the area as 'unprecedented', and said: 'The Chinese have built up a head of steam on the land reclamation in the South China Sea over the course of 2014. If anything, it looks to be accelerating.'

President Xi is expected to announce an increase in spending on the military next month. 

Last year China's defence budget rose to approximately ￡85 billion, second only to the US in terms of total spend. 

In March last year, the Philippine government revealed concerns that China was carrying out land reclamation activities in the region.  

Japan has been strengthening its military might as tensions in the area mount, and last month announced a record ￡28 billion defence budget.

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