China has set up missile batteries on Woody Island in the South China Sea. The island is the largest of the Paracel Islands, which are controlled by China but claimed by Taiwan and Vietnam. Taiwan’s defense ministry says that it is watching the situation closely.
Images from civilian satellite company ImageSat International show two batteries of eight surface-to-air missile launchers and a radar system on the island. The Pentagon has confirmed the photos, which show that the missiles arrived over the past week.
Defense ministry spokesman David Lo said that all parties should work together to maintain peace and stability in the South China Sea and refrain from taking any unilateral measures that would increase tensions.
China claims most of the South China Sea. More than $5 trillion in global trade passes through the region every year. China has also been building runways and other infrastructure on artificial islands.