China is reportedly planning to construct a new airport on land claimed from the sea near Taiwan, which would serve as a major aviation and logistics hub.
Citing a document released by the Fujian province, Hong Kong-based newspaper South China Morning Post reported that the new airport will be built in the islets of Dasha and Xiaosha, off the east coast of Pingtan county.
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The Pingtan region has been home to a pilot free-trade zone set up by China in 2013.
According to the Minxi Daily newspaper, the new airport will entail a $463m (CNY3bn) investment.
It is said to be constructed as part of Fujian’s plan to transform Pingtan island into a transport and logistics hub.
However, the newspaper did not mention, when the construction works will begin at the site.
Fujian is said to play a key part in China’s comprehensive transport expansion plan by 2035, which focuses on Beijing’s integration development plan with Taiwan.
The plan includes more than ten new civil airports, as well as dozens of new ports.
Earlier this month, Qingdao Jiaodong International Airport (TAO) was officially opened in east China’s Shandong Province.
Xinhuanet reported that the new airport has been built to handle large aircrafts such as the Airbus A380 and is ranked as 4F.
The completed first phase of the airport encompasses 16.25km², involving a $5.5bn (CNY36.04bn) investment.
