More sabre-rattling as China upgrades air bases near Taiwan

Satellite images show that Beijing has built aircraft hangars and potential munitions bunkers, and ­extended runways and tarmac aprons.

China's President Xi Jinping has vowed to reunite China with Taiwan. Picture: AFP

China has expanded and upgraded three military air bases on its southeast coast across from ­Taiwan, adding to concerns that it is preparing to go to war to reclaim the self-governed island.

Satellite images from Planet Labs, an American company co-founded by Australian Chris Boshuizen, show that Beijing has built aircraft hangars and potential munitions bunkers, and ­extended runways and tarmac aprons, all of which would enhance the capabilities of the ­Chinese air force if it were to attack.

The images were published by The Drive, a US military and tech website, at a time of tension in the Taiwan Strait. Chinese military aircraft flew a record 150 sorties in the island’s air defence identification zone over five consecutive days early this month.

Beijing has long claimed ­Taiwan to be part of Chinese territory and vows to achieve national unity, by force, if necessary.

“Reunification of the nation must be realised and it will definitely be realised,” President Xi Jinping said last week. The ­Taiwan problem, as “a product of a weaker China”, was certain to be resolved with “the national ­revival”, he said.

Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen said the island hoped for an easing of cross-strait relations and that her government would not act rashly.

“But there should be absolutely no illusions that the Taiwanese people will bow to pressure,” she said. “We will continue to bolster our national defence and demonstrate our determination to defend ourselves in order to ensure that nobody can force Taiwan to take the path China has laid out for us.”

The images by Planet Labs confirm earlier pictures from Google Earth that appeared to show construction of extended runways and taxiways at the military air bases in Longtian and Huian in Fujian province. The bases are 169km and 190km from Taiwan respectively. The third base is in Zhangzhou, where satellite images show that China may be building a new surface-to-air missile defence site.

America accepts the “one China” policy but opposes forced unification, and has a security pact with Taipei. However, observers suggest that Beijing may launch a rapid offensive before Washington and its allies can respond.

The Times