China has deployed supersonic fighter jets to the contested Woody island in the South China Sea, a satellite image has revealed.
The photo, taken by Israeli intelligence firm ImageSat International (ISI) on Wednesday, shows four J-10 warplanes parked on the Chinese-controlled island in the Paracel Islands.
This is the first time since 2017 that fighter jets have been deployed to Woody Island, analysts told MailOnline, adding that the obvious placement of the planes is China’s show of military might intended to boost its territorial claims in the disputed waters ahead of the G20 summit.
Chinese President Xi Jinping is due to meet his US counterpart Donald Trump at the summit in Japan next week, with talks aimed at ending an ongoing dispute over trade and technology.