Beijing’s military ambitions in the South China Sea were given a boost last week after the country’s first domestically developed ­amphibious aircraft was reported to have successfully completed a series of on-water tests. The AG600, or Kunlong, is the first aircraft of its kind to be built in the country. Collin Koh, a research fellow at the Maritime Security Programme at Singapore’s NTU, said, “The AG600 would be suitable for the quick transport of troops and materials, and could also ­provide other support such as evacuating garrisons in the South China Sea or even out to the Spratlys.”