China’s South China Sea Islands Aren’t Empty Runways — Thousands of Troops Are Living on Them Right Now

China’s South China Sea Islands Aren’t Empty Runways — Thousands of Troops Are Living on Them Right Now

Summary and Key Points: Most people picture China’s South China Sea islands as little more than runways carved out of the sea. The reality is far more imposing — and far stranger. Thousands of Chinese troops now live on these man-made outposts year-round, scattered across dozens of reefs, crewing missile batteries, radar arrays, and runways that push Chinese air power hundreds of miles toward America’s allies. China’s South China Sea Island Real…