China builds new offshore base in disputed South China Sea reef, Pg12

Key Highlights:

• China is actively constructing a runway on Antelope Reef in the Paracel Islands, with completion anticipated by mid-2027.
• Satellite images from September 25 show significant grading, gravel and concrete work, and operational cranes at the site.
• This development is considered China's most substantial military expansion in the South China Sea in a decade.
• The new base aims to bolster Beijing's military control and extend the operational reach of its naval ships and military aircraft in the disputed waterway.

Detailed Insights:

• Antelope Reef, also known as Lingyang Jiao in Chinese and Đá Hải Sâm in Vietnamese, is situated within the Crescent archipelago of the Paracel Islands.
• China has maintained de facto control over the Paracel Islands since 1974, though their sovereignty is also contested by Vietnam and Taiwan.
• The strategic location of the new base, south of Sanya Port and Yulin Naval Base on Hainan Island, is crucial for protecting China's naval assets, including aircraft carriers and submarines.
• A fully operational base at Antelope Reef would enhance the People's Liberation Army (PLA)'s radar and electronic surveillance capabilities, provide an additional airfield for military sorties, and expand China's air defense coverage.
• This construction mirrors China's previous efforts, such as the 3-kilometer runway built on Fiery Cross Reef in the Spratly Islands in 2015-2016.
• The South China Sea is a vital global trade route, with maritime and island disputes involving China, Brunei, Taiwan, the Philippines, Vietnam, and Malaysia.
• India has a significant interest in maintaining freedom of navigation in the South China Sea, as over half of its foreign trade passes through the Strait of Malacca into this region.
• China's extensive claims in the South China Sea are largely defined by its Nine-Dash Line, a claim that was rejected by the Permanent Court of Arbitration in 2016.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Paracel Islands: An archipelago in the South China Sea under Chinese control, but also claimed by Vietnam and Taiwan.
• South China Sea Dispute: A complex geopolitical issue involving competing territorial and maritime claims over islands, reefs, and resources in the region.
• Nine-Dash Line: A U-shaped line used by China on its maps to assert historical claims over a large portion of the South China Sea.
• Freedom of Navigation: A principle of international law asserting that ships have the right to travel through international waters without interference.