by Dramelin 6:30 PM 0 comments

Satellite images suggest China has upgraded its military ?infrastructure in the disputed ?Paracel Islands in the South China Sea, ?according to a U.S. think tank. More from the South China Morning Post:Manila expects China to build on Scarborough ShoalChina says United States should `brush up` on its South China Sea historyTrump urged to push Beijing on Hong Kong`s autonomy"Three of these now have ?protected harbors capable of hosting large numbers of naval and civilian vessels. And the largest of the Paracels, Woody Island, sports an airstrip, hangars and a [detachment] of HQ-9 surface-to-air missile batteries. Four others boast smaller harbors, with a fifth under construction at Drummond Island," the group said on its website. "The group said further expansion could help Beijing consolidate its presence and project its power in the region.