China deploys fighter jets to South China Sea island as tensions grow

TENSIONS are mounting after satellite images revealed China has deployed two fighter jets to a hotly contested island in the South China Sea.

The images, taken from ImageSat International, show two Chinese Shenyang J-11 fighter jets on Woody Island and have been authenticated by US defence officials.

The island, in the Paracel island chain, is in the South China Sea, which sees more than $5trillion in global trade pass every year.