China building combat-capable air facility on reef

MANILA, Philippines - China is building a combat-capable air facility on Zamora (Subi) Reef in the South China Sea in a development seen to jeopardize the Philippines’ possession of nearby Pag-asa Island.

Satellite photos published last Thursday by the website The Diplomat showed China is subgrading for a runway at a width of about 60 meters.

The website said the extent of subgrading at Zamora Reef is about 2,200 meters “with obvious preparations for a longer span underway.”

“As pointed out by analysts, these military facilities and others newly constructed by China in the Spratlys would increase Beijing’s capacity to enforce an air defense identification zone in the South China Sea, if it were to declare one,” The Diplomat report said.

The projects are also expected to significantly improve the People’s Liberation Army Navy’s capability for anti-submarine warfare, the website added.

Military historian Jose Custodio said the Philippines is in danger of losing Pag-asa Island because of the facility being built by China. The Philippine-occupied island is just 12 nautical miles from Zamora Reef.

“If they (China) are able to operate this (facility), they can seal off the area and conduct a blockade. The Chinese can prohibit an aircraft from landing on the island,” Custodio said.

Pag-asa, the second largest island in the disputed Spratlys chain, is being occupied by about 200 civilians and Filipino soldiers. China is claiming the Philippines illegally occupied the area, which it calls Thitu Island. 

The Philippine government has been conducting supply missions to support the residents of Pag-asa, which is located within Kalayaan, a fifth class town of Palawan.

Custodio said China could use its military muscle to pressure the Philippines to give up Pag-asa. He said it would be difficult for the government to maintain Pag-asa once China’s base becomes operational.

“(Zamora) can unhinge our presence there,” Custodio said.

“If they (military facilities) become operational, how will it affect us? Will we continue to provide supplies or withdraw?” he added.

Sought for comment, defense department spokesman Peter Galvez said the photos published by The Diplomat have “much similarity” with the images they have monitored.

The news website’s photos were taken by commercial satellite imaging company Digital Globe last Sept. 3.

The Diplomat said the size of China’s landfill at Zamora could accommodate a runway 3,300 meters long and a parallel taxiway like that of Kagitingan (Fiery Cross) Reef.

The online report said no laying of pavement has been observed so far but a section of the north rim of the reef is being widened by extending a large retaining wall into the sea and backfilling the enclosed water area with sediment.

“Elsewhere, dozens of bulldozers, cranes, trucks and tracked excavators are redistributing and compacting hundreds of acres of sand,” The Diplomat report said.

Aside from Zamora, China is also building structures in Panganiban (Mischief), Kagitingan (Fiery Cross), Kennan (Chigua), Mabini (Johnson South), Burgos (Gaven) and Calderon (Cuarteron) Reefs, areas that are also being claimed by the Philippines.