Boeing 737 sized aircraft can “ski” on water.
China is set to test the latest prototype of its amphibious aircraft, the AG600, that will increase its maritime coverage to the entire South China Sea. The previous iterations of the aircraft have conducted separate trials on the land and sea in 2017 and 2020 respectively, South China Morning Post (SCMP) reported.
The South China Sea has become a contentious issue after China has claimed sovereignty over the region. Apart from untapped reserves of oil and natural gas, the region is also home to a third of the world’s maritime trade routes and fisheries that could impact the food security of millions in the region. The U.S. and its allies are keen on protecting the rights of other island nations even as China flexes its muscle in the region. sovereignty over the South China Sea, China needs to strengthen its maritime reach in the region and the AG600 will give it just that.
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