A new satellite image shows that the PLA has completed the construction of an air defense base.

A recently released satellite image shows a Chinese air defense facility in the Paracel Islands. This, analysts say, indicates that China's People's Liberation Army now has surface-to-air missiles at the ready at both contested archipelagos in the South China Sea.

The Paracel Islands, or Xisha Islands in Chinese, are claimed by China, Vietnam and Taiwan, but have been completely occupied by Beijing since 1974 after the Chinese fleet defeated the then South Vietnamese fleet in a short but bloody naval battle.
China also occupies some of the Spratly Islands (Nansha Islands in Chinese) that are claimed by some other neighboring countries such as Malaysia, the Philippines and Vietnam.