China is rapidly expanding Antelope Reef in the Paracel Islands into what could become its largest military base in the South China Sea, according to The Wall Street Journal on April 1.
The new construction signals a revival of Beijing’s large-scale island-building campaign after nearly a decade of relative pause.
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“This is the first time in a long time that they have reopened this basket of being able to build islands extremely large and extremely quickly,” Harrison Prétat, deputy director at the Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, told the outlet.
Analysts cited by the newspaper noted that the buildout could add another runway, missile facilities, and surveillance infrastructure, strengthening China’s position in one of Asia’s most contested waterways.
Satellite imagery reviewed by analysts shows jetties, a helipad, gray-roofed structures, and a reshaped coastline that appears suitable for an airstrip.
A CSIS analysis found the reclaimed area at Antelope Reef had already reached about 6 million square meters, nearly matching Mischief Reef in the Spratly Islands at about 6.1 million square meters, while Woody Island in the Paracels covers about 3.6 million square meters.
China controls the Paracel Islands, including Antelope Reef, but Vietnam and Taiwan also claim them. So when China builds there, Vietnam treats it as unlawful construction on territory Hanoi considers its own.
The “international law” part refers more broadly to legal challenges to China’s sweeping claims in the South China Sea. Beijing argues the area is historically its territory, while other countries and many legal experts reject that position.
Analysts noted that Antelope Reef may not immediately alter the strategic balance because China already firmly controls the Paracels. Still, its position closer to the Chinese mainland could make it more useful in a Taiwan conflict than outposts farther south, with one expert noting the dredged lagoon could potentially host naval vessels, including submarines and larger coast guard ships.
The buildup also comes alongside wider Chinese efforts to expand the platforms and infrastructure needed for high-intensity maritime operations.
China has recently expanded its fleet of air-cushion landing craft based on a design Ukraine once built for Beijing, with domestically built Type 728 variants rising from two to at least five.
Naval News linked the buildup to China’s broader amphibious preparations and noted the original Project 958 Bizon deal covered four upgraded Zubr hovercraft for China.
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