In a significant military maneuver, China has reportedly deployed two long-range H-6 bombers around the Scarborough Shoal this week, emphasizing its claim over the contested atoll in the South China Sea. Satellite imagery obtained by RNG247 reveals the presence of these aircraft in the region, coinciding with heightened geopolitical tensions ahead of a visit by U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to the Philippines, a nation that also asserts rights to the shoal located within its exclusive economic zone.

This deployment has not been officially acknowledged by Chinese authorities. Inquiries directed to China’s defense ministry regarding the specifics of the deployment and any potential connections to Hegseth's trip have gone unanswered. Meanwhile, officials from the Philippines National Security Council and military have yet to respond to requests for commentary on the situation.

During his visit to Manila on Friday, Hegseth reinforced the United States' "ironclad commitment" to its mutual defense treaty with the Philippines, asserting that China’s ongoing actions necessitate deterrence efforts in the region.

The compelling images captured by Maxar Technologies clearly illustrate the two H-6 bombers positioned to the east of Scarborough Shoal, known in China as "Huangyan Dao." China's coast guard has increasingly engaged with Philippine fishermen in the waters surrounding the atoll, which Beijing has sought to control since its assertive move to seize de facto authority in 2012. Just last month, the Philippine coast guard accused the Chinese navy of dangerous maneuvers in the vicinity.

Despite an international tribunal ruling in 2016 that invalidated China's extensive claims, Beijing has consistently dismissed this legal judgment. In an email response from Maxar, the company confirmed that the aircraft identified in the images were indeed H-6 bombers, noting that “rainbow colors” visible nearby resulted from processing satellite images of fast-moving objects. Analysts believe the timing of these flights is highly strategic rather than coincidental.

Peter Layton of Australia's Griffith Asia Institute indicated that this action serves as a dual message from Beijing: to demonstrate China's growing military sophistication and to reiterate that it possesses long-range strike capabilities comparable to those of the United States, and potentially in larger quantities. "Clearly not serendipity," he concluded.

Military experts assert that China has incrementally augmented its deployment of H-6 bombers within the South China Sea, with an emphasis on demonstrating military prowess and readiness. This campaign began with operations from upgraded airstrips in the disputed Paracel Islands in 2018.

The H-6, a jet-powered bomber rooted in Soviet design yet modernized for contemporary needs, is capable of carrying various anti-ship and land-attack cruise missiles, with some variants potentially equipped for nuclear delivery. Although resembling the U.S. B-52, the H-6 features improved engines, advanced strike weaponry, and upgraded flight systems, making it a central component of China’s long-range bomber fleet.

The Pentagon's latest military report on China hinted that a more adanced, stealthier version of the aircraft could be in development. Recently, the H-6 bombers participated in significant military drills in October near Taiwan and again in December at Scarborough Shoal as part of extensive operations led by the Chinese military's Southern Theatre Command, which oversees the South China Sea.

While the December maneuvers received government attention, with an official announcement highlighting efforts to "resolutely safeguard China's national sovereignty and security," the current deployment's details remain elusive. The altitude at which these H-6 bombers are operating near the shoal is still unclear.

In contrast, Taiwan's government firmly denies China's claims of sovereignty, asserting that the future of the island rests solely in the hands of its people.