China's defense ministry acknowledged several aircraft including the H-6K bombers that could carry nuclear bombs had landed on one of the islands in the South China Sea.
The Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative (AMTI) of the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) in its report highlights the deployment of Beijing's military assets in three hangars on the Spratly-Subi Islands, Mischief and Fiery Cross Reefs-dubbed the "Big Three". According to the AMTI, the Beijing bombers could easily reach Indonesia and Singapore if they were based in the "Big Three".
"The future deployment to Big 3 in Spratly will bring Singapore and most of Indonesia within the reach of even the lower class bombers of China, while the H-6K can reach northern Australia or US defense facilities in Guam,
The H-6K is a modern version of the Soviet-era Tu-16 aircraft. The Chinese bombers were capable of carrying long range cruise missiles and nuclear bombs.
"China has built large hangars in three 'Big 3' posts in the Spratly (Subi, Mischief, and Fiery Cross Reefs) that can accommodate bomber aircraft such as the H-6 series (as well as large transport services, patrols and fueling aircraft) "continued the AMTI report.
China's Defense Ministry in a statement confirmed that its fighter air strikes against naval formations in the South China Sea region.
The ministry also released a video to Chinese state media saying that Xian H-6K bombers from the Air Force's 36th Bomber Regiment (PLAAF) carried the so-called "screen-and-go" landing operations in new buildings on an unidentified island.
Military analyst Mike Yeo said the video analysis and photographs of the training landing were conducted at Woody Island, an island not reclaimed by Beijing.
The briefing of the H-6K bomber was just days after Beijing was revealed to deploy a Y-8 fighter to an artificial island in the Spratly Islands. In addition to the Y-8 aircraft, Beijing also can not use electronic devices and various missiles including cruise missiles.
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