{"id":19286,"date":"2018-03-28T19:02:48","date_gmt":"2018-03-28T19:02:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/c4isrnet\/uncategorized\/2018\/03\/28\/chinese-flotilla-transits-south-china-sea-satellite-imagery-shows\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T19:20:04","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T19:20:04","slug":"chinese-flotilla-transits-south-china-sea-satellite-imagery-shows","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/c4isrnet\/intel-geoint\/2018\/03\/28\/chinese-flotilla-transits-south-china-sea-satellite-imagery-shows\/","title":{"rendered":"Chinese flotilla transits South China Sea, satellite imagery shows"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The U.S. military has warily watched the steady growth of China\u2019s military<\/a> and its expansion into the South China Sea<\/a>, where its anti-access\/area denial strategy seeks to shoo America and other outsiders out of the country\u2019s watery backyard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This week, the country\u2019s naval forces produced its latest coming out party of sorts, as scores of ships steamed with an aircraft carrier along a vital trade waterway, according to satellite images first obtained and reported on by Reuters<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The images, provided by Planet Labs, an earth imaging company, show Chinese ships moving in a straight line off the island of Hainan in the South China Sea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Reuters reported<\/a> this week that the movements were part of what the Chinese navy said were combat drills that comprised part of annual exercises.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Chinese Liaoning carrier group just steamed through the Taiwan Strait last week, the Taiwanese defense ministry said, according to Reuters.<\/p>\n\n\n\t