Chinas Activities in the South China Sea

July 28, 2015

Ministry of Defense

1-1 China Makes Advances into South China Sea (SCS)

China has made advances into the SCS exploiting power vacuums (1950s-70s: Paracel Islands;
80s-: Spratly Islands
Timeline
France withdraws from French Indochina

1950s
China occupies half of Paracel Islands
(South Vietnam also advances to Paracel
Islands)

1973
U.S. withdraws from South Vietnam

1974
China occupies entire Paracel Islands
(dislodging South Vietnam)
(1975: Collapse of South Vietnam (after Vietnam War))

Chinas
Advancement

Pratas Islands

1950s

Mid-1980s Soviet presence in Vietnam decreased

1980s
China advances to Spratly Islands
1988
China occupies six features in Spratly Islands
1992
1995

US withdraws from the Philippines

China occupies Mischief Reef

2000s

China advances to southern SCS

2012

China gains de facto control over

Scarborough Schoal

2014-

China conducts large-scale reclamation in SCS

1950s

Paracel
Islands

Scarborough
Shoal

Fully occupied
in 1974

6 features are
Spratly occupied
Mischief Reef
in 1988
Occupied in 1995

Islands Massive reclamation

since 2014
Second Thomas Shoal

Nine-dash line
South Luconia Shoal
James Shoal
0

500

1,000km
1

1-2 Chinas Maritime Push and Armed Clashes

As China sought to gain control over new maritime features, it came into two armed clashes with
Vietnam in 1974 and 1988.
In January 1974, China sent a naval fleet (six ships incl.
patrol boats) with militia onboard to western portion of the
Paracels, which China had not occupied. Armed clashes
with South Vietnamese frigates and other ships ensued.
Losses/Casualties (China)
Four vessels damaged
85 killed or injured

Patrol boat (China)

Losses/Casualties (South Vietnam)

One vessel sunk, three damaged
100+ killed or injured

Frigate (South Vietnam)

In January 1988, China, which had possessed no foothold

in the Spratlys, sent a naval fleet to Fiery Cross Reef and
built a structure on the Reef. In March same year, three
Chinese frigates clashed with three Vietnamese ships
including a landing ship at Johnson South Reef.

Losses/Casualties (Vietnam)
Two vessels sunk, one damaged
400+ killed or injured

China

Paracel Islands
Woody Island

Duncan Island

Structures on features etc.

China
Taiwan
Vietnam
Philippines
Malaysia

Vietnam

South Vietnam withdrew, China occupied the entire

Paracel Islands.

Losses/Casualties (China)
One killed

Pratas Islands

Frigate (China)

Subi Reef

Spratly Islands

Philippines

Gaven Reefs
Hughes Reef
Fiery Cross Reef
Mischief Reef

Cuarteron Reef

Johnson South Reef

Nine-dash line

Brunei
Attacked vessel (Vietnam)

Vietnam withdrew, China occupied Johnson South Reef.

Indonesia
Malaysia

On the causes of these two clashes, China cited South Vietnams illegitimate incursions and provocations.

500

1,000km

Ref.) Ministry of National Defense of China , Various press reports etc.

1-3 Activities by PLA, Maritime Law Enforcement Forces (MLEF) etc.

In June 2010, near Natuna Islands, Chinas
MLEF vessel allegedly aimed a cannon at an
Indonesian patrol vessel that seized a Chinese
fishing boat.
In May 2011, off the coast of Vietnam, Chinas
MLEF (China Maritime Surveillance) vessel
allegedly obstructed the operation of Vietnamese
resource exploration ship, and cut the cables that it
was laying.
In June 2011, around Vanguard Bank, Chinese
vessel allegedly obstructed the navigation of
operating Vietnamese resource exploration ship.
After the confrontation against Vietnamese
vessels in 2012, Chinas MLEF (China Coast
Guard) vessels have maintained their presence
around Scarborough Shoal.
In May 2013, PLAN and Chinas MLEF vessels
allegedly blocked the Philippine militarys supply
mission to its sentinel post (old landing ship) at
Second Thomas Shoal.
In October 2013, China allegedly sent MLEF
vessels near South Luconia Shoal. Moreover, in
January 2014, PLAN vessels allegedly conducted
activities near James Shoal.
From May to July 2014, to the south of Triton
Island, China placed oil rigs with escort of PLAN
and MLEF (China Coast Guard) vessels, and faced
off against Vietnamese vessels.
In August 2014, Chinas MLEF (China Coast
Guard) vessels allegedly put markers around Reed
Bank. Also in 2011, Chinese vessels obstructed
the navigation of Philippine ship in the same area.
In April 2015, the Philippines expressed concern
about a series of Chinas actions near Subi Reef,
such as aiming powerful light to Philippine Air
Force plane and warning to leave the area.

China Coast Guard vessel

used water cannon on a
Vietnamese ship

Haiyang Shiyou 981

China
China Maritime Surveillance vessel
allegedly cut cables

Triton Island

Structures on features etc.

China
Taiwan
Vietnam
Philippines
Malaysia
Thin dash lines are basically
200NM lines from coasts.

Scarborough Shoal

Vietnam

Philippines

Reef Bank

Subi Reef
Gaven Reefs

Hughes Reef

Fiery Cross Reef

Cuarteron Reef

Mischief Reef

Second Thomas Shoal

Sentinel post of the Philippine military (old landing ship)

Vanguard Bank

Johnson South Reef

North Luconia Shoal

Indonesia
Natuna Islands

South Luconia Shoal

Brunei
James Shoal

Malaysia

500

1,000km
Ref.) Various press reports etc.

2-1 Chinas Occupation in SCS (before reclamation)

China gained de facto control over seven maritime features in the Spratlys and built structures at all of the
seven features.
Based on its sovereignty claim, China has taken legislative and administrative actions such as the enactment
of the Law on Territorial Sea (1992) and establishment of Sansha City and the Sansha Security District (2012).
Subi Reef

Structures on features etc.

China
Taiwan
Vietnam
Philippines
Malaysia

1997

Philippines

Paracel Islands
Macclesfield Bank

Thin dash lines are basically 200NM

lines from coasts.

Scarborough Shoal
Gaven Reefs

Nine-dash line

Vietnam

1990

Hughes Reef

Fiery Cross Reef

1988
1988

Cuarteron Reef
1991

Johnson South Reef

1988

Spratly Islands

Mischief Reef
1995

Brunei
Malaysia

500

1,000km
Ref.) Various press reports etc.

2-2 Chinas Occupation in SCS (after reclamation)

Structures on features etc.
China
Taiwan
Vietnam
Philippines
Malaysia

Woody Island

China engages in large-scale

reclamation work at features
under its de facto control. As
of Oct. 2014, Fiery Cross Reef
has become the largest land
feature in the Spratlys.
(*Taiwanese-controlled Itu Aba
Island had been the largest.)

Fully occupied in 1974

US withdrawal from South Vietnam in 1973

Paracel Isalands

Subi Reef

Thin dash lines are basically

200NM lines from coasts.

2,400m-class runway
Extension work

EW Radar [est.]

Scarborough Shoal

Macclesfield Bank
Gaven Reefs

Fiery Cross Reef

15 Nov. 2014
(Ref.) CSIS/AMTI

Runway and apron construction underway

12 Apr. 2015

Philippines
Hughes Reef

(Ref.) Philippine Armed Forces

Massive reclamation
Enough space for building a 2nd runway

Twin cannon

Reclamation completed
Infrastructure being built

Mar. 23. 2015 (Ref.) IHS Janes

Cuarteron Reef

Vietnam

24 Jan. 2015 (Ref.) IHS Janes

Mischief Reef
Reclamation completed
Infrastructure being built

Johnson South Reef

Spratly Islands

Late 1990s

19 Jan. 2015

13 Apr. 2015
(Ref.) The Diplomat

Nine-dash line

1988
4 Mar. 2015

(Ref.) Philippine Armed Forces

6 features are occupied in 1988

(except Mischief Reef)
(Decrease in Soviet Presence in Vietnam in 1980s)

29 Jul. 2014
Reclamation completed
Infrastructure being built

Massive reclamation

(Ref.) CSIS/AMTI

15 Nov. 2014
(Ref.) CSIS/AMTI

Early 1990s

Reclamation completed
Infrastructure being built

28 Feb. 2013

Indonesia

Malaysia

Occupied in 1995
(US withdrawal from the Philippines in 1992)

500

1,000km

Ref.) Various press reports etc. CSIS/AMTI = CSIS Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative / DigitalGlobe

3-1 Chinas Reclamation Activities in SCS

Johnson South Reef
Feb. 2013

Hughes Reef

Jan. 2015

2013

Aug. 2014

(Ref.) CSIS Asia Maritime

Transparency Initiative /
DigitalGlobe (), IHS
Janes, Various press
reports etc.

Original
Structure
Original
Structure

Cuarteron Reef
Mar. 2013

Gaven Reefs
Nov. 2014

Mar. 2014

Nov. 2014

Original
Structure

Fiery Cross Reef

Original
Structure

Jan. 2015

Subi Reef

Apr. 2015

Mar. 2015

Aug. 2014

Original Structure
EW Radar [est.]
Original
Structure

Mischief Reef
2012

US DoD Annual Report to Congress Military and Security Developments Involving the PRC 2015 (May 8, 2015)

Apr. 2015

As of late December 2014, China had reclaimed about 500 acres (= 2km2) of land as part of this effort. Although it is unclear what will ultimately be built on
these expanded outposts, they could include harbors, communications and surveillance systems, logistics support, and at least one airfield. (* A DoD official
said that China had reclaimed approx. 2,000 acres (= 8km2) of land in the SCS on the day of publication.)
On March 31, 2015, then U.S. Pacific Fleet Commander expressed concern describing Chinas reclamation in the SCS as Great Wall of Sand.
On April 9, 2015, the Chinas Foreign Ministry Spokesperson said: After the construction, the islands and reefs will be able to provide services to meet
various civilian demands satisfying the need of necessary military defense.

Original
Structure

On April 21, 2015, the Philippines Chief of Staff said that the reclamation will cause tensions due to its possible military purposes.

Various press reports pointed out the possibility of militarization of these reclaimed features based
on satellite images and/or quoting statements above.
6

3-2 Chinas Reclamation Activities in SCS (for each feature)

Johnson South Reef
February 2013

(Ref.) Philippine Armed Forces

February 2014

(Ref.) Philippine Armed Forces

August 2014

(Ref.) IHS Janes

3-3 Chinas Reclamation Activities in SCS (for each feature)

Hughes Reef

January 2015

2013

Original Structure

(Ref.) Various Info.

(Ref.) IHS Janes

3-4 Chinas Reclamation Activities in SCS (for each feature)

Cuarteron Reef

March 2013

November 2014

20140724
Original Structure

(Ref.) Various Info.

(Ref.) CSIS Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative

/ DigitalGlobe

3-5 Chinas Reclamation Activities in SCS (for each feature)

Gaven Reefs
August 2014

March 2014

January 2015

Original Structure

(Ref.) IHS Janes

(Ref.) IHS Janes

(Ref.) IHS Janes

10

3-6 Chinas Reclamation Activities in SCS (for each feature)

Fiery Cross Reef

August 2014

March 2015

Original Structure

(Ref.) CSIS Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative

/ DigitalGlobe

(Ref.) CSIS Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative

/ DigitalGlobe

11

3-7 Chinas Reclamation Activities in SCS (for each feature)

Subi Reef
January
2015

April 2015

Original Structure
EW Radar [est.]

(Ref.) IHS Janes

(Ref.) The Diplomat

12

3-8 Chinas Reclamation Activities in SCS (for each feature)

Mischief Reef
January 2012

April 2015

Original Structure

(Ref.) CSIS Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative

/ DigitalGlobe

(Ref.) The Diplomat

13

4 Chinas Increasing Presence after Spratlys Militarization

In general terms, Chinas possible construction of military facilities in the Spratly Islands would have the following
ramifications.
Woody Island

Paracel
Islands

Effects of Port Construction

Macclesfield Bank

Subi Reef

Vietnam

Philippines

Gaven Reefs

Effects of Runway Construction

Mischief Reef

Fiery Cross Reef

Hughes Reef
Cuarteron Reef
Johnson South Reef

Spratly
Islands

Malaysia
0

Image

500

1,000km

Taiwan

2000km 1500km
Vietnam

Nine-dash line

South China Sea

Su-27/30

Spratly
Islands

UAV

200km 1800km
Malaysia
Malacca Strait

Philippines

Fiery Cross Reef

H-6

Approx. 1,400km

Sunda Strait
Approx. 1,800km

Building port facilities of certain size capable of berthing, resupply and

maintenance would enable China to maintain more robust naval and maritime
law enforcement presence in the entire SCS.
Some observers suggest considerable impact on coastal states of the SCS.

Lombok Strait
Approx. 2,000km

Image

Fiery Cross Reef with an airstrip and support facilities would enable China
to forward-deploy various aerial platforms (incl. fighters, bombers and UAVs).
Its ramifications may include:
Chinas improved air power-projection capability over the entire SCS;
enhanced air superiority over the SCS;
improved A2/AD capabilities against U.S. intervention; and,
possible declaration of an SCS Air Defense Identification Zone.
Reclamation is also being done at large-scale features such as Subi Reef,
leading some observers to suggest possible construction of multiple airstrips
in the Spratly Islands and attendant increase in Chinas air force presence.

Effects of Increasing Air/Maritime Presence

Sustained deployment of various platforms including naval and law
enforcement ships as well as aircraft enabled by military base construction
would dramatically improve Chinas ISR and other mission capabilities in the
central and southern portions of the SCS.
Some observers express concern over Chinas achieving further fait
accompli in the maritime domain, if China showcases the viability of these
islands to sustain economic life by, for example, promoting civilian
settlement (e.g. fishermen).
14

5 Comparison of Navy/Air Force Capabilities (China & Philippines/Vietnam/Malaysia)

There is a vast gap both in the quality and quantity of navy/air force capabilities between main coastal states in SCS (i.e.
the Philippines, Vietnam, and Malaysia) and China.
China Warship892 (1,423kt)

Combat aircraft2,582
4th-generation

(incl.
fighter689)
Submarine: Shang-class (6,100t)2
FighterJ-10264
Yuan-class (2,900t)12
Su-27/J-11328
Kilo-class (3,100t)12 etc.
Su-3097 etc.
Destroyer: Sovremennyy-class (6,500t)4
Patrol
aircraft
(fixed-wing): Y-83 etc.
Luyang II (5,700t)3 etc.
China

Vietnam

Philippines
Vietnam

Naval Infantry: approx. 27,000

(Vietnam Fisheries Resources Surveillance)
Coastal patrol vessel (>1,500t)2
Coastal patrol vessel (<1,500t) 1; Patrol aircraft3 etc.

Excluding aircraft of coast guard etc.

1,500
1,000

97

71

Combat aircraft26

26

The Philippines purchased 12 Korean

fighters FA-50 in 2014, and they will be
in service by 2017.

Fighter: null
Attacker: OV-10 Bronco10
Patrol aircraft (fixed-wing): F-271; N-22SL1 etc.

Malaysia

Coastal patrol vessel (<1,500t)5

Air-sea rescue helicopter3 etc.

Malaysia

Combat Aircraft

2,000

500

Submarine: null
Frigate: Hamilton-class (2,700t)2
Cannon-class (1,400t)1
Corvette: Auk-class (1,100t)2 etc.

Marines: approx. 8,300

Philippine Coast Guard: vessel58

Vietnam Coast Guard: vessel34+

2,582

According to Global Times, China

possesses 52 MLEF vessels (>1,000tclass).

Warship80 (47kt)

Submarine: Kilo-class(3,100t)2; Yugo-class(100t)2

Frigate: Gepard-class (1,600t)2; Petya-class (1,000t)5
Corvette: BPS500 (400t)1
Combat aircraft97incl. 4th-generation fighter34)
Fighter: Su-30MK223; Su-2711; MiG-2133 etc.
Patrol aircraft (fixed-wing): null

2,500

Coastal patrol vessel (>1,500t)18

Coastal patrol vessel (<1,500t)48
etc.

Philippines

Warship94 (37kt)

3,000

MLEF vessel370+

Warship208 (58kt)

140

Submarine: Scorpne-class (1,800t)2

Frigate: Lekiu-class (1,900t)2; Corvette: Kasturi-class (1,500t)2
etc.
Combat aircraft71incl. 4th-generation fighter36)
Fighter: Mig-2910; Su-30MKM18; F/A-188 etc.
Patrol aircraft (fixed-wing): null

120

Malaysia Maritime Enforcement Agency: 4,500

Vessel189; Marine Police: 2,100
Coastal patrol vessel (>1,500t)2; Patrol aircraft2
Air-sea rescue helicopter3 etc.

Warship

142.3

Excluding vessel of
coast guard etc.
1,000

Total tonnage

892

Number of vessel

100

600

80
60
40
20
0

800

400

208
5.8

4.7

80

94
3.7

200
0

(Ref.) Military Balance (2014), Janes Fighting Ships 2013-2014 etc.

15

6 Development Trends of Other Countries/Region in SCS

Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia and Taiwan in the 1980s/90s built runways (600-1,200m) on the land
features over which they have de facto control.
All these countries/region have done facility maintenance and development. Reports suggest that
Vietnam has recently conducted reclamation work.
Structures on features etc.
China
Taiwan
Vietnam
Philippines
Malaysia

30 Aug. 2011

Paracel
Islands
Approx.
423m

19 Feb. 2015
(Ref.) CSIS/AMTI

Vietnam

Thitu Island
Philippines

Approx. 1,200m runway

Sand Cay
(Vietnam)

Satellite images taken in August

2011 and February 2015 found
that Vietnam reclaimed about
21,000m2 at Sand Cay.

Itu Aba Island (Taiwan)

West London Reef

(Vietnam)

Deep water wharf at which 3,000t-class vessel

can be anchored is under construction
(scheduled for completion in the end of 2015)

Satellite images taken in January

2010 and April 2015 proved that
Vietnam reclaimed approximately
65,000m2 at West London Reef.

Approx.
162m

Philippines

Approx. 1,200m runway

Approx.
173m

Thin dash lines are basically 200NM

lines from coasts.
3 Jan. 2010

Runway renovation plan

was announced in 2011,
but the construction work
has not yet started.

Swallow Reef (Malaysia)

Spratly Islands

Approx. 1,400m runway

Spratly Island (Vietnam)

Brunei
Approx.
494m

30 Apr. 2015

(Ref.) CSIS/AMTI

Nine-dashed line
Approx. 600m runway

Malaysia

Ref.) Various press reports etc.

Runway extension work was conducted in

2003 (from 1,000m to 1,400m)

500

1,000km

CSIS/AMTI = CSIS Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative / DigitalGlobe

16