Beijing Builds Military Bases on Coral Reefs
China has been creating artificial islands in the South China Sea since 2013 by pumping sand onto coral reefs. What started as small reefs underwater have now become large islands with airports, military bases, and weapons systems.
Between 2013 and 2016, China created 3,200 acres of new land in the disputed Spratly Islands. This is equal to about 1,600 football fields built in just three years.
The speed of construction has shocked neighboring countries. Places like Mischief Reef and Fiery Cross Reef, which were once just coral formations barely visible at high tide, now have 3-kilometer runways, harbors, radar stations, and missile platforms.
Massive Environmental Destruction
China has destroyed or severely damaged at least 21,183 acres of coral reef through island-building and giant clam harvesting, according to researchers.
Scientists say the damage is permanent. Once coral reefs are buried under tons of sand and concrete, they cannot grow back. Over 15 square kilometers of coral reef was converted to artificial islands between June 2013 and December 2015.
The South China Sea is home to over 6,500 marine species. Coral reefs sustain an estimated 25 percent of global marine life, but satellite data shows that reef cover in this area has declined roughly 16 percent each decade.
Reefs degraded by island-building produce less fish and coral larvae for downstream areas. In the most extreme cases, scientists found that no new coral or fish larvae are getting through because all their sources have been destroyed.
Fishing Communities Suffer
The construction has destroyed traditional fishing grounds. Local fishermen from the Philippines, Vietnam, and other countries have lost access to waters where their families have fished for generations.
The South China Sea provides 12 percent of the global fisheries catch, supporting at least 3.7 million people in neighboring countries. However, overfishing combined with habitat destruction means fish stocks have been declining since the mid-1990s.
Chinese fishing boats, sometimes numbering 100-150 vessels per reef, have engaged in destructive practices including bottom-trawling and harvesting giant clams using high-pressure water pumps.
Military Expansion Raises Tensions
While China claims these islands are for civilian purposes like rescuing ships and weather monitoring, the reality tells a different story. The islands are equipped with anti-aircraft weapons, missile systems, and military radar.
Analysts interpret this move as a precursor to establishing an air defense identification zone, which would give China more control over one of the world's busiest shipping routes.
China claims sovereignty over more than 80 percent of the South China Sea, a strategic waterway that serves as a conduit for up to one-third of global maritime trade.
In 2016, an international court in The Hague ruled against China's claims in the South China Sea. The court stated China "seriously violated its obligation to preserve and protect the marine environment". However, China rejected this ruling and continues its island-building activities.
Continued Expansion Threatens Regional Stability
Recent satellite images show new land reclamation activity at Antelope Reef in the Paracel Islands, suggesting China is expanding its network of artificial islands even further.
Analysis shows new facilities on China's three largest outposts in the Spratly Islands: Fiery Cross Reef, Mischief Reef and Subi Reef. These upgrades include electronic warfare equipment and intelligence gathering systems.
The Philippines and Vietnam have repeatedly protested against China's activities. The Philippines recently lodged complaints against China's ongoing reclamation activities at Johnson South Reef.
Six countries claim parts of the South China Sea: China, Taiwan, Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia, and Brunei. China's aggressive island-building threatens to spark armed conflict in the region.
Recent satellite images show new land reclamation activity at Antelope Reef in the Paracel Islands, suggesting China is expanding its network of artificial islands even further.
Analysis shows new facilities on China's three largest outposts in the Spratly Islands: Fiery Cross Reef, Mischief Reef and Subi Reef. These upgrades include electronic warfare equipment and intelligence gathering systems.
The Philippines and Vietnam have repeatedly protested against China's activities. The Philippines recently lodged complaints against China's ongoing reclamation activities at Johnson South Reef.
Six countries claim parts of the South China Sea: China, Taiwan, Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia, and Brunei. China's aggressive island-building threatens to spark armed conflict in the region.
International Community Must Act
Environmental experts warn that the damage may be irreversible. The South China Sea's coral reefs take decades to recover, if they recover at all. Many species found nowhere else on Earth may already be extinct.
Marine biologists have proposed creating an international peace park to protect the remaining coral reefs, but China has refused to cooperate with neighboring countries.
The artificial islands represent both an environmental disaster and a military threat. China's actions show clear expansionist intentions that destabilize one of the world's most important and contested maritime regions.
Without international pressure and diplomatic solutions, the situation in the South China Sea will only worsen, threatening both regional peace and the survival of one of the planet's most biodiverse marine ecosystems.
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