China’s Spratlys structures near complete: US think tank

CHINESE structures on the Spratly Islands believed to be for military purpose are near completion, reported the US think tank Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative (AMTI).

“China’s three air bases in the Spratlys and another on Woody Island in the Paracels will allow Chinese military aircraft to operate over nearly the entire South China Sea. The same is true of China’s radar coverage, made possible by advanced surveillance/ early-warning radar facilities at Fiery Cross, Subi, and Cuarteron Reefs, as well as Woody Island, and smaller facilities elsewhere,” claimed the report published Monday, March 27, by AMTI, which forms part of Washington’s Center for Strategic and International Studies.

Showing aerial shots of the three islands, the AMTI added that China also has structures for mobile missile launchers and surface- to- air missiles already installed there.

The islands — on which the Philippines is among the claimants — are about 230 miles southwest of the Philippine archipelago province of Palawan, which includes the contested islands as among its municipalities.

In Fiery Cross Reef (Kagitingan Reef ), AMTI reported three radar/sensory array structures, four hangars, one mobile missile shelter and four point defenses as of March 9. The hangars can accommodate 24 combat aircrafts and four larger planes.

In Mischief Reef (Panganiban Reef), AMTI reported three hangars, three point defenses, two radar/sensory arrays and a mobile missile shelter as of March 11.

“The hangars for 24 combat aircraft have been completed and in early March construction teams were putting the finishing touches on five larger hangars,” AMTI said about Mischief Reef.

Subi Reef, located southwest of Philippine- occupied Pag- asa island, has three radar/sensory arrays, one mobile missile center, four point defenses, and two hangars as of March 14.

“Subi Reef also sports what appears to be a high- frequency “elephant cage” radar array on its southern end. This is unique among the Big 3,” AMTI said.

China has denied US charges that it is militarizing the South China Sea, although last week Premier Li Keqiang said defense equipment had been placed on islands in the disputed waterway to maintain “freedom of navigation.”

AMTI said China’s three air bases in the Spratlys and another on Woody Island in the Paracel chain further north would allow its military aircraft to operate over nearly the entire South China Sea, a key global trade route that Beijing claims most of.

Several neighboring states have competing claims in the sea, which is widely seen as a potential regional flashpoint.

The think tank said advanced surveillance and early-warning radar facilities at Fiery Cross, Subi, and Cuarteron Reefs, as well as Woody Island, and smaller facilities elsewhere gave it similar radar coverage.

Commenting on the developing situation in the Spratlys, former national security adviser Roilo Golez warned at a forum on Wednesday that China’s activities could eventually lead to the Philippines becoming a part of its sphere of influence.

“China seeks to expand its influence beyond the imaginary line called First Island Chain, which demarcates China’s territories visa-vis that of the Philippines,” Mr. Golez said. “If China succeeds to break this imaginary line, then the Philippines will be placed within China’s sphere of influence.”

He added: “China’s activities can be clustered into a strategic triangle. First is the operationalization of the Paracels Island in the South China Seas. Then the clustering of artificial islands and soon to be operationalized is the Scarborough Shoals. China controls the Mischief Reefs already. It constructed an aircraft runway, a harbor for warships and even developed a 150 kilometer multi purpose lagoon there which is as big as Quezon City. Now the Benham Rise fiasco.” — and

with a report by