The United States intelligence agencies are convinced that the numerous surface-to-air missiles that China recently shipped to its Hainan Island in the South China Sea will soon be moved to the country's disputed man-made islands.

According to anonymous military officials, moving the missiles to the islands will be in line with China's declaration that it want to protect the three airstrips on the islands.

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The missiles, currently residing on Hainan Island, are a combination of short-, medium-, and long-range weapons. They include one battalion of the advanced SA-21 long-range missile system, which is based on the fourth-generation Russian software. It is capable of hitting aircraft from as far away as 250 miles.

According to the US military officials, there could be as many as 500 surface-to-air missiles on Hainan Island.

"The location is only temporary," the officials said, adding that the Hainan island location is only a training location before the missiles are moved early next year.

China's latest deployment of military armaments comes only days after Beijing agreed to return an underwater research drone captured in the South China Sea to the United States.

The Pentagon had accused a Chinese Navy ship of stealing the drone despite objections from the American oceanography crew operating in international waters.

China has also deployed surface-to-air missiles on Woody Island on the South China Sea.

During a visit to the United States last year, China's President Xi Jinping said that he does not plan to militarize the islands.

Ties between China and the United States have been strained lately, especially after US President-elect Donald Trump held a phone conversation with Taiwan's President, Tsai Ing-Wen.

TagsSouth China Sea, South China Sea Dispute, china, President Xi Jinping