PLA Expanding South China Sea Militarization: China Aggressively Building On Unclaimed Reefs

In an attempt to bolster its military presence and set up further claims in the disputed region, Beijing is reportedly undertaking construction activities in several new and previously unoccupied land features in the South China Sea.

Beijing-controlled maritime militias have undertaken construction work at four features in the South China Sea over the past decade, Bloomberg said in a report, citing unnamed Western officials with knowledge of the matter.

Based on satellite images, the areas in the Spratly Islands where new reclamation and construction activity has been observed are Eldad Reef and Lankiam Cay apart from Whitsun Reef and Sandy Cay.

While satellite images in 2014 showed a Chinese maritime vessel offloading an amphibious hydraulic excavator at Eldad Reef in northern Spratlys, images over the past year have revealed distinct reclamation activity being undertaken with debris piles and excavator tracks at a site that used to be only partially exposed during high tide.

Such activities have also been observed at Lankiam Cay, also known as Panata Island in the Philippines, where the report said a feature had been reinforced with a new perimeter wall over the course of just a couple of months last year.

Satellite images have also shown similar changes at both Whitsun Reef and Sandy Cay which now sit permanently above the high-tide line, as per the report.

Some of these landforms and other formations in the area have expanded more than 10 times in size in recent years, the report also noted.

Despite international objections, China has used its "nine-dash line" policy to lay claim over the entire South China Sea region. Beijing is already known to have built over 20 outposts in the Paracel Islands and seven in the Spratly Islands. It also controls Scarborough Shoal which it seized in 2012, creating 3,200 acres of new land, according to the Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative.

Although it is still uncertain if China would seek to militarize these newly claimed land features, Western officials warn that Beijing's construction activity is an attempt to change the status quo to lay new claims in the disputed region, the Bloomberg report added.

Several countries have claims over islands in the South China Sea, which is known to have abundant oil reserves and fishing opportunities and through which one-third of global shipping takes place.

While Washington and Western allies that have important interests in the region are primarily focused on ensuring freedom of navigation in the South China Sea, Beijing is reported to have militarized at least three of several islands, arming them with anti-ship and anti-aircraft missile systems, laser and jamming equipment and fighter jets.