On May 7, 1991, the USS Raider aircraft carrier battle group was on its way back to Pearl Harbor after the Gulf War mission when it accidentally spotted a H-6 hovering near Xisha Islands. The incident sparked a standoff between the U.S. and Chinese aircraft, highlighting China's air weakness in the South China Sea at the time. This incident not only made the "Raider" fleet curious to track the H-6, but also forced the Chinese Air Force to deal with the challenge and show the dignity of the country and the face of the army.
As the "Raider" sent two F-14s to track the H-6, the air force radar of China's Guangzhou Military Region quickly detected and urgently dispatched two J-7IIs to intercept them. This confrontation is essentially a contest of attitudes, not of aircraft performance. The J-7II pales in performance in front of the F-14, but in the face of challenges, China must respond to the challenges and cannot let the H-6 be watched and indifferent.
However, the J-7II's dilemma is that the range is too short. Due to the fact that the sea area where the incident occurred is more than 300km away from the airport, coupled with the high temperature and humidity environment of the South China Sea, the combat radius of the J-7II is limited, and it is difficult to continue tracking and interception. Although the United States is well aware of the J-7II's performance, they have found that the J-7II has not shown signs of returning. It turned out that China had already built an airfield on Woody Island in the Paracels, which provided the basic support for the J-7II, allowing it to land on Woody Island, overcoming the problem of short range.
Behind this incident is the lesson of China's retreat in the 1988 Battle of Chigua Reef due to insufficient air support. Resolving the issue of air support in the South China Sea has become a top priority. The short range of the J-6 and J-7 is an inherent problem, while the J-8II, Flying Leopard and other aircraft are still in a state of being far away and not quenching their thirst. So, in August 1988, the ** Military Commission approved the construction of Woody Island Airport. In early May 1991, the first phase of the Woody Island Airport was completed and put into use, providing the Chinese Air Force with a base for effective control over the South China Sea.
After more than a decade of island reclamation, China has a number of airports in the South China Sea, including Woody Island, a total of five. These airports are not only equipped with well-equipped facilities, but also have ports and terminals, military support and living facilities, which can support the rotation of aircraft and ships of the Navy and Air Force. Today, China has the ability to project effective forces in the South China Sea, greatly increasing its control over the South China Sea.
Despite the initial success of China's strategy in the South China Sea, it has ostensibly restrained in the face of diplomatic implications. In state-to-state interactions, a tough stance is not the only option. Through the construction of the islands, China has both solved the problem of air support and avoided an overly assertive stance. This flexible and pragmatic approach has made China's strategy in the South China Sea more strategic.
Overall, China has successfully solved the problem of air support in the South China Sea and increased its military presence in the South China Sea through the construction of multiple airports such as Woody Island. However, in international relations, flexibility is particularly important. Ultimately, the question we need to think about is how to balance between diplomacy in order to better safeguard national interests and dignity.