Tensions in South China Sea - Beijing deploys strategic bombers

This week, China positioned two Xian H-6 bombers near the shoal, which is claimed by China and referred to as Huangyan Dao. The move is seen as a further attempt by Beijing to assert sovereignty over this disputed atoll in the South China Sea.

The deployment occurred just ahead of US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin’s visit to the Philippines. During his visit to Manila on March 28, Austin reaffirmed the US’s "ironclad commitment" to the mutual defense treaty with the Philippines and stated that China’s actions had made deterrence necessary in the region.

Timing is not accidental

Photographs taken on March 24 by Maxar Technologies show the presence of two aircraft east of Scarborough Shoal. According to Maxar, these aircraft were H-6 bombers. Analysts believe the timing of the flights was not coincidental.

"Beijing was sending a signal that China has a sophisticated military," said Peter Layton of Australia's Griffith Asia Institute. "The bombers' second message could be you (the United States) have the potential for long range strike; so do we, and in larger numbers. Clearly not serendipity," he added.

Regional military attachés say China has gradually increased its deployment of H-6 bombers in the South China Sea as part of its expanding military presence, starting with landings on improved airstrips in the disputed Paracel Islands in 2018.

H-6 bombers - Key characteristics

The H-6 bombers are jet-powered and based on a Soviet-era design but have been modernized to carry anti-ship and ground-attack cruise missiles, with some capable of launching ballistic missiles with nuclear warheads. The basic design of the H-6 dates back to the 1950s, much like the US B-52, but with enhanced engines, modern weapons, and onboard systems. They are a key component of China’s long-range bombing capabilities.

In its December report on China’s military, the Pentagon suggested that a more stealthy version of the bomber may be in development.

December training and military presence

In October, China deployed bombers during military drills around Taiwan, which China considers its territory. The bombers were also deployed in late December near Scarborough Shoal as part of broader air and maritime operations by China’s Southern Command.

According to the International Institute for Strategic Studies, the command overseeing the South China Sea has two bomber regiments at its disposal.

The December exercises were heavily publicized by China’s Ministry of Defense, which stated that they were aimed at "resolutely safeguarding China’s national sovereignty and security" and "maintaining peace in the South China Sea." The Ministry also released images of the aircraft over the shoal, although satellite images of the aircraft in action are rare. The altitude at which the H-6 bombers flew near the shoal remains unknown.

Dispute Over Scarborough Shoal

China gained effective control of Scarborough Shoal in 2012 and claims almost the entire South China Sea. Over $3 trillion in trade passes through this waterway annually. Other claimants to parts of the sea and the waterway include Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Vietnam. The US also claims the shoal lies within its exclusive economic zone, 200 nautical miles from its coast.

In 2016, the International Court of Arbitration in The Hague ruled that China’s claims had no legal basis, but Beijing rejected the ruling.

In recent years, Chinese coast guard vessels have frequently clashed with Filipino fishermen near the shoal, which China intermittently attempts to block. In February, the Philippine Coast Guard accused the Chinese fleet of carrying out dangerous aerial maneuvers nearby.