China's biggest warplane sent to disputed area on Christmas Day —report

China’s biggest warplane Y-20 transporter flew over Fiery Cross Reef, a disputed territory in the South China Sea, on Christmas Day, according to a South China Morning Post report last Friday.

The report said a satellite images showed the huge aircraft spotted on the airstrip on the militarized area in the Spratly Islands. No loading or unloading of cargo was observed.

Fiery Cross Reef is administered by China but also claimed by the Philippines, Vietnam and Taiwan. The Philippines refers to the reef as Kagitingan Reef.

The Y-20, built by the Xian Aircraft Industry Corporation, is the biggest aircraft in China’s military fleet.

According to the SCMP report, a Chinese military source said the Y-20 was deployed in the area to test its capabilities.

“It’s the first time China has deployed the Y-20 to the Spratlys,” the person said without giving any more information.

The Y-20 arrived at the area days ahead of China’s launch of three simultaneous 10-day military exercises in waters surrounding Hainan, its island province about 1,200 km north of the Spratlys.

On December 29, Ken Joyce, director of product management at American space technology company Maxar Technologies, posted the images on LinkedIn. --Joviland Rita/KBK, GMA News