Key facts
- China has completed the first phase of construction on Antelope Reef in the South China Sea.
- Satellite images reveal a man-made island approximately 6 km long with a potential runway and a 680m wharf.
- Work has begun on buildings, including a helicopter pad, on the southeastern part of the island.
- Analysts believe the reef will become a significant part of China's military infrastructure, potentially larger than neighboring Woody Island.
- China's official stance suggests civilian uses, while security analysts view it as a military expansion.
China has completed the initial phase of construction on Antelope Reef in the Paracels archipelago, creating a man-made island in the disputed South China Sea. Satellite images reviewed by Reuters indicate that barges and dredgers have departed after at least six months of work, with construction of buildings, including a helicopter pad, having commenced.
Analysts suggest this development will bolster China's military presence in the region, potentially forming part of its largest military base and strengthening its hold on the vital waterway. Ben Lewis, founder of PLATracker, noted the reef's strategic placement for potential conflict scenarios involving Taiwan. The reclaimed island is nearly 6 km long, featuring a straight coastline of over 3 km that some analysts interpret as a potential runway, alongside a 680-meter wharf.
While China's defense ministry has not immediately responded to requests for comment, state media have previously stated that Antelope Reef will serve civilian purposes such as weather forecasting and scientific research. This explanation mirrors China's prior justifications for its build-up in the Spratlys archipelago. However, regional security analysts and military attaches widely believe the construction is aimed at enhancing China's military capabilities.
Scholars like Ding Duo have described the construction as 'modest' and aimed at making waters safer, while others, such as Collin Koh, a security scholar, suggest the island could support China's bid to create protected ocean areas for its ballistic missile submarines and potentially complicate submarine operations by the U.S. and Vietnam. Professor Carl Thayer stated that the completed facilities would strengthen China's ability to monitor the U.S. and its allies and add complexity in a conflict scenario.
China has occupied the Paracel Islands since 1974. Vietnam has previously asserted its sovereignty claims to Antelope Reef, stating it resolutely opposes such actions. The development underscores the increasingly militarized nature of the South China Sea, a key arena of competition between China and the United States and its allies.