The United States has reached a milestone in enhancing its combat capabilities amid China's missile threat to its Western Pacific military bases, as a World War II-era airfield on a remote island held a groundbreaking ceremony for a restoration project.

The current progress of the renovation of North Field on Tinian Island is still "considered confidential information," the U.S. Air Force 's 36th Wing told Newsweek last week. The unit is based on Guam , southwest of Tinian.

Newsweek has contacted the Chinese Foreign Ministry for comment via email.

Why It Matters

North Field was instrumental in ending World War II, launching the two U.S. bombers that dropped atomic bombs on Japan in August 1945, forcing the country's surrender. Tinian is part of the Northern Mariana Islands, a U

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