Media: Beijing deploys strategic bombers in South China Sea

China has deployed two long-range H-6 bombers near the Scarborough Shoal, a disputed atoll in the South China Sea, in a move that further escalates tensions in the region.

The deployment, which was not publicly announced by Beijing, comes just days before U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's visit to the Philippines, which also claims the shoal as part of its exclusive economic zone (EEZ). Satellite images obtained by Reuters on March 24 reveal the bombers' positions east of the shoal, known as "Huangyan Dao" in China.

China's defense ministry did not respond to Reuters' inquiries regarding the scale of the deployment or whether it was specifically timed to coincide with Hegseth's trip. The Philippines' National Security Council and military also did not comment on the development.

The timing of the bomber deployment has raised concerns among regional analysts, who suggest that Beijing is sending a dual message. Peter Layton, a regional security expert at Australia's Griffith Asia Institute, noted that the bombers' deployment signals China's military sophistication, while also serving as a reminder to the United States of China's growing long-range strike capabilities. Layton emphasized that the deployment was unlikely to be accidental, especially given the ongoing military buildup in the South China Sea.

The Scarborough Shoal has long been a flashpoint for territorial disputes, with China asserting de facto control over the atoll since 2012. This latest military move comes amid repeated clashes between Chinese coast guard vessels and Philippine fishermen near the shoal. In the past, China has blocked access to the area, further fueling tensions. Last month, the Philippines accused the Chinese navy of conducting dangerous flight maneuvers near the shoal, intensifying the dispute.

During a visit to Manila on March 28, Hegseth reaffirmed the United States' "ironclad commitment" to its mutual defense treaty with the Philippines, stressing that China's actions in the South China Sea necessitate enhanced deterrence measures. He condemned Beijing's increasingly assertive behavior in the region, which has raised alarm among U.S. allies in Southeast Asia.

Maxar Technologies, which provided the satellite images, identified the aircraft as H-6 bombers. The company noted that the "rainbow colours" seen near the bombers were the result of processing satellite images of fast-moving objects. China's H-6 bombers are part of an ongoing effort to strengthen the country's military presence in the South China Sea, with the first deployments of these bombers to the disputed Paracel Islands dating back to 2018.

Despite a 2016 ruling by an international arbitration tribunal in The Hague that declared China's claims to the South China Sea have no legal basis, Beijing continues to reject the decision and assert its sovereignty over the area. As military tensions rise, the situation remains fraught with uncertainty, with competing territorial claims and military posturing becoming an increasingly common feature of the regional security landscape.

By Vugar Khalilov