Satellite imagery shows the construction by China of a new facility on Hughes Reef in the Spratly Islands. The site, which has expanded from a 380 sq m platform to an island 75,000 sq m large, is another example of Chinese land reclamation in the Union Banks, according to James Hardy, Asia-Pacific Editor, IHS Jane’s Defence Weekly.
“Satellite imagery analysed by IHS Jane’s has for the first time identified Chinese land reclamation activity and installation construction at Hughes Reef in the Spratly Islands.
“The imagery, provided by Airbus Defence and Space and taken in January, also shows the progress of construction at two other sites in the Spratlys: Johnson South Reef, which like Hughes Reef is in the Union Banks, and Gaven Reefs in the Tizard Banks.
“IHS Jane’s previously used AIS transponder signals to monitor the movements of the Chinese dredger Tian Jing Hao through the Union Banks and Tizard Banks regions in late 2013 and early 2014. It was present at Hughes Reef between 20 March and 3 April 2014.
“Google Earth imagery captured on 1 February 2004 shows Hughes Reef before construction began, with a 380 square-meter concrete platform present. Airbus satellite imagery captured on 24 January 2015 shows an island 75,000 square-meters large and the construction of a large facility in progress.
“The original 380 square-meter installation remains surrounded by reclaimed land in a manner consistent with other Chinese reclamation projects in the South China Sea.
“Significant progress has also been made at Gaven Reefs in the Tizard Banks, which are northwest of the Union Banks.
“Construction at Gaven Reefs began sometime after 30 March 2014, with imagery dated 7 August 2014 showing the construction of an artificial island. Imagery dated 30 January 2015 shows a causeway has linked the island to the original facility and the construction of a helipad.
“The buildings on Hughes Reef and Gaven Reefs have almost identical footprints: that of a main square building with what appears to be an anti-aircraft tower or radome at each corner. This suggests that China has standardised the design of key facilities and is rolling it out across its new islands.
“The most interesting thing about this recent imagery of Hughes Reef and Gaven Reefs is that it shows the stages that China’s going through to build these islands. We can see that this is a methodical, well-planned campaign to create a chain of air and sea capable fortresses across the centre of the Spratly Islands chain. China is actually reclaiming land on at least 5 reefs in the Spratlys – this article just examines three that Airbus took imagery of in late January. All are bolstering China’s occupation of these reefs: where it used to have a few small concrete platforms, it now has full islands with helipads, airstrips, harbours, and facilities to support large numbers of troops. That means it can assert the dashed-line claim much more forcefully than before.”