China is once again testing the mettle of the Asean nations by landing aircraft on a newly built runway on Fiery Cross Reef among the disputed Spratly Islands in the South China Sea.

The state-run Xinhua news agency last Wednesday (Jan 6) released photos of two commercial jets on Fiery Cross – referred to by its Chinese name, Yongshu.

It hailed the use of the reclaimed runway as a successful follow-up to another landing there four days earlier that had angered Vietnam.

Read more: http://www.straitstimes.com/asia/east-asia/as-china-brags-asean-remains-silent-the-nation