Vietnamese Su-30 fighters fly over Nanwei Island in South China Sea

The Vietnam Navy recently released some photos showing its Su-30 fighter jets flying over Nanwei Island, the largest Vietnam-controlled island of the Nansha Islands in the South China Sea. The island’s runways and buildings can be seen clearly from the pictures.

Nanwei Island is the most strategically important island in the southwest area of the Nansha Islands. Between July 1973 and February 1974, the island was occupied by the South Vietnamese regime. After Vietnam’s reunification in 1975, the country continued to occupy the island and even set up its military command center there. Vietnam even filled the sea to expand the island’s area.

In April 2004, the Vietnamese government illegally organized tour groups to the Chinese Nansha Islands and allowed passengers travel around the islands — including Nanwei Island — on refurbished warships.