South China Sea tensions: Beijing flexes military muscle with anti-ship ballistic missiles

Beijing carried out its first test on the weekend as the window for testing remains open until Wednesday, CNBC reported. US military ships, which were in the water at the time, saw at least one missile fired into the sea. The official said the tests were “concerning” as China flexes its military muscle.

China has been holding military exercises across the disputed seas this week as it reinforces its claim on the busy waterway.

The drills were carried out between the Paracel and Spratly island groups where Vietnam and the Philippines claim territory.

But China’s navy have been constantly present in the region, threatening Filipino fishermen.

China, who have built on islands in the seas, are desperate to control the waterway and be the most dominant military power in the Asia-Pacific region.

READ MORE: South China Sea dispute: China and Philippines frictions explained

US congressmen and women have hit back at China’s claims with sanctions as well as the US Navy conducting Freedom of Navigation operations.

The sanctions apply to companies and individuals who support China’s claim over the seas, the Navy Times reported.

Representative Mike Gallagher said: “Through its illegitimate efforts to build and militarise islands in the region, the Chinese Communist Party has aggressively attempted to control these critical waterways and undermined international law.

“This legislation makes clear that any individual or entity supporting these illegal actions will be held accountable.”

Beijing have since been flexing their military muscles as the Public Liberation Army (PLA) unveils warships carrying deadly cruise missiles.

The PLA has 20 Type 052D destroyers equipped with up to 256 missiles between them.

The warship features 64 vertical launch cells, capable of carrying one to four missiles.

One of the missiles includes the PLA’s “deadliest anti-ship cruise missiles (ASCM), the vertically-launched YJ-18 ASCM”, according to The Diplomat.