(Photos courtesy of CSIS)New satellite images show the Chinese military shoring up its defenses on a disputed island chain in the South China Sea, adding what appears to be reinforced launch sites for surface-to-air missiles on at least three atolls. The images show at least eight structures on three of China’s man-made atolls in the Spratly Islands: Fiery Cross, Mischief Reef and Subi Reef. “China has indisputable sovereignty of the South China Sea islands and their adjacent water,” he said. In December, satellite imagery showed that the Chinese military had built a structure that contained antiaircraft guns and potentially close-in weapons systems, or CIWS. It is unclear how President Trump will react to China’s continued militarization in the South China Sea.

Source: Washington Post February 23, 2017 19:08 UTC