 |
China claims almost the whole of the South China Sea,
resulting in overlapping claims with several other Asian nations including
Vietnam and the Philippines. They accuse China of illegally reclaiming land in
contested areas to create artificial islands with facilities that could
potentially be for military use.
 |
Images have emerged of
work in multiple areas in the disputed Spratly islands. China says its work is
legal and needed to safeguard its sovereignty
Military use?
The report from IHS Jane's used images provided by Airbus
Defence and Space in February and March.
The later image, dated 23 March, showed a paved section of
runway on the north-eastern side of Fiery Cross Reef, as well as paving and
ground preparation of other sections of the runway.
The 3,000m length, it said, "would be well within the
parameters of existing People's Liberation Army Air Force runways on mainland
China, which vary in length from about 2,700m to 4,000m at most".
It also showed dredging to the south of the reef, in apparent
work to improve the reef's port facilities.
Additional images showed that China could be building a
second air strip on Subi Reef, also in the Spratlys and only 25km from an
island with a Filipino civilian population, by creating and then linking three
artificial islands, the report said.
China's neighbours are concerned that Beijing is working to
entrench a military presence in the South China Sea to reinforce - and make
permanent - its claims.
The Philippines said last year it believed China was
building an airstrip in Johnson South Reef, in the Spratlys - the extent of
work there is not clear. And earlier this week, another report citing satellite
images said China was expanding an airstrip on Woody Island, much further
north in the disputed Paracel Islands which Vietnam claims.
 |
Manila released this photo in May 2014 appearing to show Chinese land
reclamation at Johnson South Reef
|
 |
Several recent sets of images have shown land reclamation work in the
Spratlys. This shows ships and construction on Mischief Reef
President Barack Obama has said the US fears China is using
"sheer size and muscle" to strong-arm smaller nations over the South
China Sea.
A US State Department spokesman says the US does "not
believe that large-scale land reclamation with the intent to militarise
outposts on disputed land features is consistent with the region's desire for
peace and stability".
But China insists it is acting within its rights.
"China's work on the Spratly islands mostly serves civil purposes apart
from meeting the needs of military defence. China is aiming to provide shelter,
aid in navigation, weather forecasts and fishery assistance to ships of various
countries passing through the sea," a commentary carried prominently by
Xinhua news agency on Thursday read.
|
