Thayer Consultancy Background Brief

ABN # 65 648 097 123

South China Sea: Chinese
Nuclear Capable Bombers Land
on Woody Island
May 20, 2018

We are following up on today's report that the Chinese Air Force landed several
bombers on a South China Sea island and carried out simulated strike training on
targets at sea. We request your assessment of how important you consider this
development and the reasons behind it.
ANSWER: The deployment of H-6K nuclear-capable bombers is part of a steadily
escalating pattern of Chinese military behavior. They landed and took off from the
airstrip on Woody Island.
What takes place on Woody Island is viewed as a harbinger of what will occur
eventually in the Spratlys. China has three 3 km long airstrips Fiery Cross, Mischief and
Subi reefs in the Spratlys on. Each of these features is equipped with hangars large
enough to accommodate the H-6K bomber.
China’s deployment of the H-6K bombers should be placed in the larger context of
China-Taiwan relations and China’s response to increased U.S. naval activity in the
South China Sea.
China-Taiwan Relations
Cross-strait relations between mainland China and Taiwan have nose-dived since the
election of Tsai Ing-wen as President of Taiwan (Republic of China) in May 2016.
General Secretary and President Xi Jinping reportedly is putting pressure on Taiwan.
On 21 March, China’s only aircraft carrier, the Liaoning, sailed down the Taiwan
Straits. In mid-April, China conducted a massive fleet deployment of forty-eight
warships, including the Liaoning, and seventy-six fighters in waters to the east of
Hainan island. On 18 April, the People’s Liberation Army Navy conducted live-fire drills
off the coast of Fujian province opposite Taiwan.
On 23 April, four U.S. Senators tabled the Asia Reassurance Initiative Act calling for a
step up in diplomatic and military engagement with Taiwan. This Act proposes arms
sales to Taiwan and possible regular port calls by the U.S. Navy.
On 11 May, China sent warplanes and bombers to fly around Taiwan’s east coast.
Increased U.S. Naval Activity
After Donald Trump was elected President of the United States, Secretary of Defense
James Mattis approved an annual schedule of freedom of navigation operational
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patrols (FONOPS) in the South China Sea. There have been six FONOPS since this
program was approved the most recent in March (see Table 1).
Table 1 U.S. FONOPS Under Trump Administration

No. US Navy Ship Date Location

1 USS Dewey (DDG-105) May 24, 2017 Mischief Reef and other artificial
islands

2 USS Stethem (DDG-63) Jul 2, 2017 Triton Island, Paracels

3 USS John S. McCain Aug 10, 2017 Mischief Reef

(DDG-56)

4 USS Chafee (DDG-90) Oct 10, 2017 Paracel Islands

5 USS Hopper (DDG-70) Jan 17, 2018 Scarborough Shoal

6 USS Mustin (DDG-89) March 2018 Mischief Reef

In addition, the U.S. Navy also conducts naval presence patrols and continuous
bomber presence patrols on and over the South China Sea. For example, in March
2018, the U.S. aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) visited the Philippines and
Vietnam. The following month, the USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) visited the
Philippines. On 25th April two U.S. B-52 bombers based on Guam flew closes to China’s
eastern coast Guangdong province
On 9 April, it was reported that China recently installed communications equipment
and radar jammers on two of its outposts in the Spratly islands. On 5 May, it was
reported that China, installed HQ-9B surface-to-air missiles and YJ-12B anti-ship cruise
on three of its Spratly island outposts (Fiery Cross, Mischief and Subi reefs). At the
same time, China has reasserted its claims to “indisputable sovereignty” over the
South China Sea and has warned regional states that they are not permitted to exploit
the resources in the South China Sea without China’s prior permission. Vietnam has
been forced to stand down oil exploration in the waters near Vanguard Bank. Most
recently, China has brought pressure to bear on Russian Vietnam BV oil company to
cease operations at the LD-3P well in Block 06.1 (Lan Do or Red Orchid).
In sum, China now appears to be consolidating it military position in the Spratlys now
that major construction on its artificial islands is basically complete. China’s major
naval bases, however, are at Zhanjiang, Guangdong (HQ South Sea Fleet) and Yulin
Naval Base on Hainan Island.
The deployment of the H-6K bombers comes at a time when China is under U.S.
pressure over trade issues and the Trump Administration is focused on sanctions
against Iran and ensuring that a summit meeting with North Korea’s Kim jong-un takes
place. There may be an element of opportunism in China’s deployment of the H-6K
bombers at this particular time.
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Suggested citation: Carlyle A. Thayer, “South China Sea: Chinese Nuclear Capable
Bombers Land on Woody Island,” Thayer Consultancy Background Brief, May 20, 2018.
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Thayer Consultancy provides political analysis of current regional security issues and
other research support to selected clients. Thayer Consultancy was officially
registered as a small business in Australia in 2002.