China 'has deployed missiles in South China Sea' - reports
China appears to have deployed surface-to-air missiles on a disputed island in the South China Sea, say reports.
Satellite images taken on 14 February and published by Fox News appear to show two batteries of eight missile launchers and a radar system on Woody or Yonxing Island in the Paracels
Taiwan, which also claims the island, confirmed the deployment.
The presence of missiles would significantly increase tensions in the acrimonious South China Sea dispute.
China has been carrying out extensive land reclamation work in the region, which it says is legal and for civilian purposes.
But the work has angered other countries which also claim the territory, and there is growing concern about the implications of the area becoming militarised.
The latest images of Woody Island, called Yongxing Island by China, were captured by ImageSat International.
They show a close-up of a section of beach, the shape of which resembles the northern coastline as it appears on other images, and point out two missiles batteries. Each battery is made up of four launchers and two control vehicles.
An image taken of the site on 3 February shows the beach empty.
Fox News quoted a US defence official as saying the missiles appeared to be the HQ-9 air defence system, with a range of about 200km (125 miles).
Reuters quoted a US official confirming the "apparent deployment".
Taiwan's defence ministry would not say how many missiles had been deployed or when, but told the BBC they would be capable of targeting civilian and military aircraft.
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