China Parks Warplanes On Disputed Island Just Before Macron, Hegseth Head To Asia: Report

Last Updated:May 28, 2025, 18:32 IST

Beijing lands H-6 bombers in South China Sea as Macron and Hegseth prepare to visit region.

A KJ-500 early warning plane along with Y-20 transport aircraft are parked on the tarmac of an airfield on Woody Island, in the disputed Paracel archipelago, which is known in China as Xisha Islands, South China Sea. (IMAGE: MAXAR TECHNOLOGIES/REUTERS)

China has deployed two of its upgraded H-6 bombers to Woody Island in the disputed Paracels for the first time since 2020, satellite images accessed by news agency Reuters show. The report cited analysts who indicate that the move is a show of strength ahead of key regional visits by French President Emmanuel Macron and US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth and comes amid tensions with the Philippines and increased military activity near Taiwan. Analysts say the bombers’ presence is a signal aimed at multiple rivals, including the US.

French President Emmanuel Macron is set to open the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore on Friday, where he will deliver a keynote speech outlining France’s Indo-Pacific strategy. US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth will follow with a Saturday address detailing the Trump administration’s security vision for the region. Both leaders are expected to meet counterparts and discuss rising tensions in the South China Sea, especially in light of China’s latest military moves.

China’s H-6 vs US B-52

The H-6 is China’s mainstay long-range bomber, a heavily modernised version of a Soviet-era design from the 1950s—similar in heritage to America’s B-52s. Both have Cold War roots but have been updated over the decades. The H-6 now carries land-attack and anti-ship cruise missiles and, in some variants, nuclear payloads. It’s smaller than the B-52 and has a shorter range and payload, but it remains key to China’s regional deterrence, especially when paired with early warning and transport aircraft.

Images from May 19, clicked by Maxar’s satellites and accessed by Reuters, show the bombers parked on Woody Island alongside two Y-20 transport planes and a KJ-500 early warning aircraft. Analysts told the news agency that the planes may have arrived on May 17 and stayed till May 23. The deployment is being closely tracked due to the H-6’s role in past drills near Taiwan and its ability to strike US bases in the region.

The bombers are usually based deep inside mainland China for protection in case of conflict, while the US maintains a strong presence with fighters in Japan and bombers like the B-52 on Guam. Despite being slower and older in design, the H-6, like the B-52, has been consistently upgraded with modern avionics and weaponry, making it a central part of Beijing’s growing military footprint in the South China Sea.

China’s claim over almost the entire South China Sea is contested by several countries, and its hold over the Paracels is disputed by Vietnam. A 2016 international ruling rejected Beijing’s sweeping maritime claims, but China continues to ignore that decision.

Location :

Hong Kong

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News world China Parks Warplanes On Disputed Island Just Before Macron, Hegseth Head To Asia: Report