China continues to bolster its air and naval forces on Hainan Island, its southernmost province located in the South China Sea.
Called by some Chinese military pundits as an "unsinkable aircraft carrier," Hainan has seen a steady inflow of warplanes of the People's Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) since last year. In addition, a massive dry dock capable of handling China's two aircraft carriers is close to completion at the Yulin Naval Base. This facility is also the main base for the submarine fleet of the People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN).
Western intelligence sources have detected the deployment of PLAAF Shaanxi KJ-500 airborne early-warning (AEWC) aircraft and KQ-200 long-range, anti-submarine and maritime patrol aircraft at the two of the island's major airports.
Also present on Hainan are BZK-005 high-altitude, long-range unmanned aerial drones used for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance. These drones have been used for spy missions over the East China Sea and have been detected by the Japanese.
Satellite photos show KJ-500 AEWC aircraft and BZK-005 drones deploying to the Lingshui Air Base operated by PLAN on Hainan's southeast coast. A PLAAF regiment is flying its KQ-200s out of the civilian-military Qionghai Bo'ao Airport on the island's east coast.
A PLAAF airbase in Hainan’s main city of Sanya is currently being modernized with the construction of a new apron, at least 11 new hangars and resurfacing of other taxiways.
The additional warplanes deployed to Lingshui and Qionghai will strengthen China’s reconnaissance capabilities over the South China Sea and its many disputed islands.
New satellite images show a new dry dock at at the Yulin Naval Base capable of accommodating the aircraft carriers CNS Liaoning (CV-16) and CNS Shandong (CV-17) is close to completion.
A dry dock on Hainan will greatly strengthen the PLAN's presence in the contested South China Sea. It indicates PLAN aircraft carriers will be permanently based on Hainan.
Taken together, these moves by China will considerably boost the PLAN's capability in the South China Sea, which is likely to see the start of any hostilities against the United States and its allies.
In December 2020, PLAN conducted a live fire exercise in the South China Sea involving naval and aircraft units drawn from the Yulin Naval Base. Western military analysts said the exercise sends a signal the Yulin Naval Base will be involved in any future conflict against the U.S. (Jan. 24, 2021)
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