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Civilian Jets Land on Chinese-Built Island, Drawing Protests
Source: Associated Press
Civilian Jets Land on Chinese-Built Island, Drawing Protests
By CHRISTOPHER BODEEN, ASSOCIATED PRESS
BEIJING — Jan 7, 2016, 8:08 AM ET
Two civilian jets landed on the airstrip of a new island China built in the South China Sea, drawing more protests over China's activities in disputed waters.
The China Daily newspaper reported Thursday the planes made the two-hour flight to Fiery Cross Reef from Haikou on the southern island province of Hainan.
It said the test flights on Wednesday proved the runway's ability to safely handle large civilian aircraft. Photos showed one of the planes to be a China Southern Airlines Airbus A319-115.
An earlier test flight Saturday drew angry protests from Vietnam, Philippines and Japan.
China's building of seven islands by piling sand on reefs and atolls has been condemned by its neighbors and the United States, which accused China of raising tensions in an area where six governments maintain overlapping maritime territorial claims.
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By CHRISTOPHER BODEEN, ASSOCIATED PRESS
BEIJING — Jan 7, 2016, 8:08 AM ET
Two civilian jets landed on the airstrip of a new island China built in the South China Sea, drawing more protests over China's activities in disputed waters.
The China Daily newspaper reported Thursday the planes made the two-hour flight to Fiery Cross Reef from Haikou on the southern island province of Hainan.
It said the test flights on Wednesday proved the runway's ability to safely handle large civilian aircraft. Photos showed one of the planes to be a China Southern Airlines Airbus A319-115.
An earlier test flight Saturday drew angry protests from Vietnam, Philippines and Japan.
China's building of seven islands by piling sand on reefs and atolls has been condemned by its neighbors and the United States, which accused China of raising tensions in an area where six governments maintain overlapping maritime territorial claims.
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Read more: http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/china-flies-commercial-jets-man-made-island-36136382