Maritime Territorial and Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) Disputes Involving China: Issues for Congress Page: 38 of 92
92 pages.View a full description of this report.
Extracted Text
The following text was automatically extracted from the image on this page using optical character recognition software:
Maritime Territorial and Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) Disputes Involving China
reclaimed approximately 50 acres of land over the same period. As part of this effort,
China excavated deep channels to improve access to its outposts, created artificial
harbors, dredged natural harbors, and constructed new berthing areas to allow access for
larger ships. Development of the initial four features-all of which were reclaimed in
2014-has progressed to the final stages of primary infrastructure construction, and
includes communication and surveillance systems, as well as logistical support facilities.
At the three features where the largest outposts are located, China completed major land
reclamation efforts in early October 2015 and began transitioning to infrastructure
development, with each feature having an airfield-each with approximately 9,800 foot-
long runways-and large ports in various stages of construction. Additional substantial
infrastructure, including communications and surveillance systems, is expected to be built
on these features in the coming year.
China's Government has stated these projects are mainly for improving the living and
working conditions of those stationed on the outposts, safety of navigation, and research.
However, most analysts outside China believe that China is attempting to bolster its de
facto control by improving its military and civilian infrastructure in the South China Sea.
The airfields, berthing areas, and resupply facilities will allow China to maintain a more
flexible and persistent coast guard and military presence in the area. This would improve
China's ability to detect and challenge activities by rival claimants or third parties, widen
the range of capabilities available to China, and reduce the time required to deploy
them.92
DOD stated in 2015 that
[China's] Recent land reclamation activity has little legal effect, but will support China's
ability to sustain longer patrols in the South China Sea....
One of the most notable recent developments in the South China Sea is China's
expansion of disputed features and artificial island construction in the Spratly Islands,
using large-scale land reclamation. Although land reclamation-the dredging of seafloor
material for use as landfill-is not a new development in the South China Sea, China's
recent land reclamation campaign significantly outweighs other efforts in size, pace, and
nature.
In the 1970s and 1980s, the Philippines and Malaysia conducted limited land reclamation
projects on disputed features, with Vietnam and later Taiwan initiating efforts. At the
time, the Philippines constructed an airfield on Thitu Island, with approximately 14 acres
of land reclamation to extend the runway. Malaysia built an airfield at Swallow Reef in
the 1980s, also using relatively small amounts of reclaimed land. Between 2009 and
2014, Vietnam was the most active claimant in terms of both outpost upgrades and land
reclamation. It reclaimed approximately 60 acres of land at 7 of its outposts and built at
least 4 new structures as part of its expansion efforts. Since August 2013, Taiwan has
reclaimed approximately 8 acres of land near the airstrip on Itu Aba Island, its sole
outpost.
China's recent efforts involve land reclamation on various types of features within the
South China Sea. At least some of these features were not naturally formed areas of land
that were above water at high tide and, thus, under international law as reflected in the
Law of the Sea Convention, cannot generate any maritime zones (e.g., territorial seas or
exclusive economic zones). Artificial islands built on such features could, at most,
generate 500-meter safety zones, which must be established in conformity with
92 Department of Defense, Annual Report to Congress [on] Military and Security Developments Involving the People's
Republic of China 2016, p. 13. The report presents figures and photographs of the reclamation sites on pp. 14-20. See
also pp. i, 7, and 44.Congressional Research Service
33
Upcoming Pages
Here’s what’s next.
Search Inside
This report can be searched. Note: Results may vary based on the legibility of text within the document.
Tools / Downloads
Get a copy of this page or view the extracted text.
Citing and Sharing
Basic information for referencing this web page. We also provide extended guidance on usage rights, references, copying or embedding.
Reference the current page of this Report.
O'Rourke, Ronald. Maritime Territorial and Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) Disputes Involving China: Issues for Congress, report, August 17, 2017; Washington D.C.. (https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc1020870/m1/38/: accessed July 17, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, UNT Digital Library, https://digital.library.unt.edu; crediting UNT Libraries Government Documents Department.