Why did China quietly deploy bombers near a hotly contested shoal just days before a top U.S. official’s visit?
Satellite Images Expose Secret Deployment
Fresh satellite images obtained by Reuters show China deployed two long-range H-6 bombers near Scarborough Shoal this week. The move, unannounced by Beijing, comes just as U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth arrived in the Philippines—a key ally also claiming the atoll.
Timing Raises Eyebrows
Analysts say the deployment is no coincidence. “China is flexing its military muscle,” says Peter Layton of Griffith Asia Institute. The bombers, capable of carrying nuclear missiles, sent a clear message: “We can strike long-range too.”
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Scarborough Shoal has been a flashpoint since China seized control in 2012. Philippine fishermen and coast guards frequently clash with Chinese vessels nearby. In 2016, an international court rejected China’s claims, but Beijing ignored the ruling.
U.S. Responds with Reassurance
During his Manila visit, Hegseth reaffirmed America’s “ironclad commitment” to defend the Philippines. Meanwhile, China’s defense ministry stayed silent on whether the bomber flights were timed as a warning.
What’s Next?
With China steadily expanding its military presence in the South China Sea, regional tensions show no sign of cooling. The world watches as this high-stakes game of power plays unfolds.
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