It is home to the PLAN Marine Xisha Island Garrison (battalion size) and a civilian emergency rescue center. It has an artificial harbor that can accommodate ships up to 5000 tone and a modern 2350 meters runway that can support a Boeing 737 class transport.
It has no fresh water source, so a water slide park is out of the question.
6 comments:
beautiful photography
You're joking right? No water park!?
The island is very low (no hills or mountains) and is surrounded by a coral reef.
The 1st picture is militarily the most interesting, as you get a very good view of the airstrip and its associated hangers, and in the far background you can make out the sheltered harbor and most interestingly, a large, all-weather radar under a plastic radome.
The four hangers are not large and cannot accommodate or support a large aircraft like a Y-8 or similar-sized aircraft.
Similarly there doesn't seem to be any extensive or automated facilities in the harbor for ship repair and dry-docking.
All this belies Western claims that China has transformed the island into a major base or staging area for offensive naval operations.
I have heard Western claims that the PLAN had previously stationed a squadron (around 12 aircraft?) of J-7E's along with some J-8II's on the island, but there is no sign of them in these pictures.
It may be possible to operate a few aircraft from this strip, but major operations are out of the question - the necessary infrastructure just isn't there.
Although it is said to have no freshwater, there are quite a few trees on the island (and not just salt-tolerant coconut trees).
Does this mean that they use some of their fresh water supply to water and support these - expensive.
The beach flora are mainly salt-tolerant halophytes (redundant statement).
Does this mean that they use some of their fresh water supply to water and support these - expensive.
Duskylim,
Bull's eye. To do anything there is expensive -- everything would have to be shipped in. From what I read, there is a rain-run-off collection system in the island to give a limited boost to the garrison
Have a look at this photo, the Y-8J is landing
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3wZSwFvZzqM/SxdSVxu85RI/AAAAAAAAEW0/dCO53Rd-a18/s1600-h/25_1495_028289caf3a8296.jpg
Duskylim was referring to the hanger support of the Y-8 class.
The four hangers are not large and cannot accommodate or support a large aircraft like a Y-8 or similar-sized aircraft.
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