CHINA’S 3,000 HECTARES ARTIFICIAL ISLAND, CHINESE VESSELS ON WPS INCREASED

The construction of China’s artificial island has improved and added more facilities in the island that seems like a city (Photo courtesy of GMA Integrated News)

China's artificial island in Subi Reef, which is almost near the Pag-asa Island, now looks like an air and naval base of China with a wide runway, seaport, large buildings built in the middle of the sea.

From what used to be clumps of rocks and reefs submerged in the sea in 2012, it has changed a lot since China began reclamation in 2013. It can be seen that there are high-rise buildings, runways, radars, warehouses, and aircraft hangars, and Chinese warships moored at a dock built on the island.

It seems that the expansion of the island is still not finished because there are still constructions seen in the area. More worryingly, Subi or Zamora Reef is almost right next to Pag-asa Island.  So it's not surprising that China is so quick to deploy ships when the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) and Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) are spotted.

According to Philippine Navy spokesperson for WPS Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad, " the total reclaimed area within our exclusive economic zone (EEZ) and out of our EEZ, roughly around 3,000 hectares. This includes China’s major bases.”

“This includes Subi Reef, which I would like to correct is outside our EEZ, although it is roughly 12 to 15 nautical miles from Pag-asa,” he added.

Meanwhile, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) reported that the number of Chinese vessels monitored in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) increased to 122 from July 30 to August 5, 2024. Including a 106 Chinese maritime militia vessels (CMM), 12 China Coast Guard (CCG) ships, and three People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN). 

"Broken down to 12 CCG, three PLA Navy, and 106 CMM vessels, seen in Bajo de Masinloc, Ayungin Shoal, Pagasa Island, Lawak Island, Panata Island, Patag Island, Sabina Shoal, Julian Felipe Reef and Iroquois Reef," AFP stated.

Source: GMA Integrated News 

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