BEIJING — Satellite images released by U.S. thinktank Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative (AMTI) reveal that China may have installed anti-aircraft and anti-missile systems on all seven artificial islands that it has built in the South China Sea. <br /> <br />According to AMTI, China appears to have militarized Gaven, Hughes, Johnson, Cuarteron, Fiery Cross, Mischief and Subi reefs in the South China Sea. <br /> <br />This discovery is significant as during a state visit to the U.S. last year, Chinese President Xi Jinping publicly stated that China had no intention of militarizing the islands. <br /> <br />Gaven Reef and Hughes Reef have similar point-defence structures, with suspected anti-aircraft guns and close-in weapon systems installed. The structures of the facilities are different on Johnson and Cuarteron reefs. <br /> <br />At Fiery Cross Reef, all four structures are positioned toward the sea. This allows the anti-aircraft guns and close-in weapon systems to cover all approaches to the base, according to the report by AMTI. <br /> <br />Similar designs are being observed at Mischief Reef, where two of four structures have been completed, while only one of four structures have been completed at Subi Reef.
