Background Briefing:
China’s Air Strip on Woody
Island
Carlyle A. Thayer
October 9, 2014
[client name deleted]
It has been reported that China has completed an air strip on Woody Island. How will
this improve China's defense capacity in the South China Sea?
ANSWER: In 1990, China constructed a 1,200 foot runway on Woody Island that was
extended twice to 7,874 feet before the current extension. The airstrip on Woody
Island already can accommodate fighter aircraft such as the Su-27 and Su-30MKKs,
H-6 bombers and large supply transport aircraft.
The facilities adjacent to the runway include four hangers. Air traffic is controlled by
a Type 791 X-band precision-approach radar. Other military infrastructure on Woody
Island includes naval docks capable of accommodating frigates and destroyers and a
fuel depot. People’s Liberation Army (PLA) soldiers are based on Woody Island to
protect the runway and other military facilities.
China has also built military-related facilities elsewhere in the Paracels. A weather
station has been built on Pattle Island, while Robert Island houses a radio beacon,
the only beacon south of Hainan. The docks on Duncan Island are being expanded.
A Signals Intelligence (SIGINT) station has been operating on Rocky Island, the
highest premonitory, since 1995. This station could provide air or surface warning
and support air missions or ship targeting. Open sources report that China may have
stationed the HY-2 anti-ship cruise missile on Woody Island.
On July 19, 2012, China’s Central Military Commission officially decided to establish a
military command in Sansha City after its elevation to prefecture-level administrative
status. The garrison was placed under the PLA Hainan provincial sub-command
within the Guangzhou Military Command. The Sansha military garrison has been
assigned responsibility for national defence mobilization, military operations and
reserves. According to Defence Ministry spokesperson Geng Yansheng, “China may
set up local military command organs in the city [Sansha] according to relevant
regulations.” Senior Colonel Cai Xihong was appointed commander of the Sansha
garrison and Senior Colonel Liao Chaoyi was named Political Commissar.
Thayer Consultancy
ABN # 65 648 097 123
2
According to Japanese sources, China’s decision to establish a “security area” in
Sansha “is considered preparation for full-scale military action in the South China
Sea.” This view is disputed by retired U.S. Rear Admiral Mike McDevitt who argues
that a military garrison in Sansha will not affect the military balance or signal
imminent hostilities. McDevitt points out that any major military operations in the
South China Sea would be mounted from Hainan where the PLA has major bases.
According to McDevitt, “putting garrisons on Woody Island or elsewhere in the
Paracels would effectively maroon these guys, so the only advantage would be just
showing the flag - to say, ‘We are serious’.”
According to regional security specialists, the standing up of a military garrison
command on Woody Island does not represent an attempt to build a base for
forward deployment into the South China Sea. In their view, the Sansha military
garrison is merely an administrative response to the upgrading of Sansha to a
prefecture-level city. Military garrisons do not command PLA main force combat
units, PLA Navy for PLA Air Force units.
Suggested citation: Carlyle A. Thayer, “China’s Air Strip on Woody Island,” Thayer
Consultancy Background Brief, October 9, 2014. All background briefs are posted on
Scribd.com (search for Thayer). To remove yourself from the mailing list type
UNSUBSCRIBE in the Subject heading and hit the Reply key.
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.
China’s Air Strip on Woody
Island
Carlyle A. Thayer
October 9, 2014
[client name deleted]
It has been reported that China has completed an air strip on Woody Island. How will
this improve China's defense capacity in the South China Sea?
ANSWER: In 1990, China constructed a 1,200 foot runway on Woody Island that was
extended twice to 7,874 feet before the current extension. The airstrip on Woody
Island already can accommodate fighter aircraft such as the Su-27 and Su-30MKKs,
H-6 bombers and large supply transport aircraft.
The facilities adjacent to the runway include four hangers. Air traffic is controlled by
a Type 791 X-band precision-approach radar. Other military infrastructure on Woody
Island includes naval docks capable of accommodating frigates and destroyers and a
fuel depot. People’s Liberation Army (PLA) soldiers are based on Woody Island to
protect the runway and other military facilities.
China has also built military-related facilities elsewhere in the Paracels. A weather
station has been built on Pattle Island, while Robert Island houses a radio beacon,
the only beacon south of Hainan. The docks on Duncan Island are being expanded.
A Signals Intelligence (SIGINT) station has been operating on Rocky Island, the
highest premonitory, since 1995. This station could provide air or surface warning
and support air missions or ship targeting. Open sources report that China may have
stationed the HY-2 anti-ship cruise missile on Woody Island.
On July 19, 2012, China’s Central Military Commission officially decided to establish a
military command in Sansha City after its elevation to prefecture-level administrative
status. The garrison was placed under the PLA Hainan provincial sub-command
within the Guangzhou Military Command. The Sansha military garrison has been
assigned responsibility for national defence mobilization, military operations and
reserves. According to Defence Ministry spokesperson Geng Yansheng, “China may
set up local military command organs in the city [Sansha] according to relevant
regulations.” Senior Colonel Cai Xihong was appointed commander of the Sansha
garrison and Senior Colonel Liao Chaoyi was named Political Commissar.
Thayer Consultancy
ABN # 65 648 097 123
2
According to Japanese sources, China’s decision to establish a “security area” in
Sansha “is considered preparation for full-scale military action in the South China
Sea.” This view is disputed by retired U.S. Rear Admiral Mike McDevitt who argues
that a military garrison in Sansha will not affect the military balance or signal
imminent hostilities. McDevitt points out that any major military operations in the
South China Sea would be mounted from Hainan where the PLA has major bases.
According to McDevitt, “putting garrisons on Woody Island or elsewhere in the
Paracels would effectively maroon these guys, so the only advantage would be just
showing the flag - to say, ‘We are serious’.”
According to regional security specialists, the standing up of a military garrison
command on Woody Island does not represent an attempt to build a base for
forward deployment into the South China Sea. In their view, the Sansha military
garrison is merely an administrative response to the upgrading of Sansha to a
prefecture-level city. Military garrisons do not command PLA main force combat
units, PLA Navy for PLA Air Force units.
Suggested citation: Carlyle A. Thayer, “China’s Air Strip on Woody Island,” Thayer
Consultancy Background Brief, October 9, 2014. All background briefs are posted on
Scribd.com (search for Thayer). To remove yourself from the mailing list type
UNSUBSCRIBE in the Subject heading and hit the Reply key.
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.
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