Recent satellite imagery indicates that the Chinese military is developing a new counter-stealth radar system on Triton Island, located in the disputed South China Sea. This construction is expected to enhance China's surveillance capabilities in the region significantly.
According to an analysis by Chatham House, the upgrades on Triton Island, situated in the southwestern part of the Paracel archipelago, may include a launch site for an anti-ship missile battery along with the sophisticated radar system. Michael Dahm, a senior fellow at the Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies, emphasized that these developments could limit the operational effectiveness of US stealth aircraft, signaling to US allies that advanced American technology may be challenged by the People's Liberation Army (PLA).
China has previously established similar counter-stealth radar systems, known as synthetic impulse and aperture radar (SIAR), on Subi Reef in the Spratly Islands and Hainan Island to the north. The addition of Triton Island will enhance China's coverage in the area, with Dahm describing it as “another brick in the wall” of a three-decade-long effort to counter US stealth capabilities.
Triton Island, a reef approximately 120 hectares in size, has been under Chinese control since a conflict with Vietnam in 1974. It is also claimed by Taiwan and Vietnam. While China asserts broad territorial claims over the South China Sea, an international tribunal has rejected these assertions, and multiple countries, including the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei, and Taiwan, maintain overlapping claims in this strategic waterway.
The US, although not a claimant in these disputes, regards the South China Sea as vital to its national interests and routinely conducts freedom of navigation operations in the region. The US has a mutual defense agreement with the Philippines and has pledged to protect it from potential attacks in the South China Sea.
Tensions in the region have escalated, with China facing accusations of aggressive behavior. Recently, Vietnam accused Chinese law enforcement of assaulting its fishermen and seizing their catch near the Paracel Islands, which are rich in marine resources and believed to hold significant oil and gas reserves. Any construction on Triton Island could heighten concerns in Hanoi, as Chatham House’s analysis suggests the new intelligence capabilities could significantly reduce Vietnam's ability to operate covertly in the area.
The radar system on Triton is expected to allow China to monitor Vietnamese air activity and anticipate military movements, including efforts to access energy reserves. Moreover, it may complicate navigation for the US, British, and Australian naval forces operating in the vicinity.
Chatham House notes several construction projects on Triton, including a large pad likely intended for a mobile anti-ship missile battery, along with another structure that may serve as a storage facility for missile transport vehicles. These efforts are seen as part of China's strategy to fortify the southwestern edge of the Paracel archipelago, addressing what Dahm describes as a "weak point in the fortress."
No comments:
Post a Comment