Wednesday, December 02, 2009

Photos of the Yong Xing Island

YongXiang island 永兴岛 (woody island) is the main island of the Xisha islands (Paracel islands) in the South China Sea. It is approximately 2.1 square kilometers in size.

It is home to the PLAN Marine Xisha Island Garrison (battalion size) and a civilian emergency rescue center. It has an artificial harbor that can accommodate ships up to 5000 tone and a modern 2350 meters runway that can support a Boeing 737 class transport.

It has no fresh water source, so a water slide park is out of the question.

















6 comments:

kartist_man said...

beautiful photography

Anonymous said...

You're joking right? No water park!?

duskylim said...

The island is very low (no hills or mountains) and is surrounded by a coral reef.

The 1st picture is militarily the most interesting, as you get a very good view of the airstrip and its associated hangers, and in the far background you can make out the sheltered harbor and most interestingly, a large, all-weather radar under a plastic radome.

The four hangers are not large and cannot accommodate or support a large aircraft like a Y-8 or similar-sized aircraft.

Similarly there doesn't seem to be any extensive or automated facilities in the harbor for ship repair and dry-docking.

All this belies Western claims that China has transformed the island into a major base or staging area for offensive naval operations.

I have heard Western claims that the PLAN had previously stationed a squadron (around 12 aircraft?) of J-7E's along with some J-8II's on the island, but there is no sign of them in these pictures.

It may be possible to operate a few aircraft from this strip, but major operations are out of the question - the necessary infrastructure just isn't there.

Although it is said to have no freshwater, there are quite a few trees on the island (and not just salt-tolerant coconut trees).

Does this mean that they use some of their fresh water supply to water and support these - expensive.

The beach flora are mainly salt-tolerant halophytes (redundant statement).

Coatepeque said...

Does this mean that they use some of their fresh water supply to water and support these - expensive.

Duskylim,

Bull's eye. To do anything there is expensive -- everything would have to be shipped in. From what I read, there is a rain-run-off collection system in the island to give a limited boost to the garrison

Anonymous said...

Have a look at this photo, the Y-8J is landing

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3wZSwFvZzqM/SxdSVxu85RI/AAAAAAAAEW0/dCO53Rd-a18/s1600-h/25_1495_028289caf3a8296.jpg

Coatepeque said...

Duskylim was referring to the hanger support of the Y-8 class.


The four hangers are not large and cannot accommodate or support a large aircraft like a Y-8 or similar-sized aircraft.