China Accelerates Runway Construction on Antelope Reef in South China Sea
China is rapidly constructing a runway on Antelope Reef, also known as Lingyang Reef, located in the Paracel Islands within the South China Sea. According to the Taipei Times, analysts anticipate the completion of this construction by mid-2027, with the potential for the first aircraft landing around the same timeframe. Satellite imagery reviewed by Reuters confirms the ongoing work, showing surface leveling, stockpiles of gravel and concrete, and cranes actively compacting the soil. Commercial satellite imaging operator Vantor also captured images of a barge transporting gravel towards a newly built pier. While China has not officially acknowledged the construction of a new military base, Chinese state media claim the facility on Antelope Reef will serve civilian purposes, including meteorological observations and maritime and scientific research. Both Taiwan and Vietnam also assert claims over the Paracel Islands.
