China tested the two new airfields in the disputed islands yesterday flying in two civilian aircraft filled with media personnel to display its defiance to the world over its determination to retain the large tracts of the South China Sea despite the award.
With this the number of airfields open to civil aircraft in the archipelago to three, state-run Xinhua news agency reported.
Both the television and print media prominently highlighted it today.
Besides the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan challenged China's claims.
China which has boycotted the tribunal has rejected the verdict, saying it is null and void.
A flight took off from Haikou, capital of south China's Hainan Province, landed on Meiji Reef known as Mischief Reef two hours later, while another took off from Haikou and landed on Zhubi Reef.
Both were awarded by the tribunal to the Philippines which filed the petition for arbitration questioning China's claims.
The round trips came a day after a Cessna CE-680 flew to the two reefs to ensure that both airfields are prepared for civil flights.
China now has three functioning airports on the Nansha Islands, which lie under one of the world's busiest airspaces.
In addition to the airports, there are four multi-purpose lighthouses on Huayang, Chigua, Zhubi and Yongshu reefs, while the construction of a fifth on Meiji Reef is nearing completion, the Ministry of Transportation said.