Philippines to expand military drone fleet as South China Sea tensions rise

HONG KONG: New installations have been observed on Yagong Island, a small islet situated near Antelope Reef in the disputed South China Sea, according to satellite imagery analyzed by Reuters. Analysts speculate that China may be constructing its largest military base on the islet, although definitive information remains unavailable.

The three-pronged construction on Yagong Island, discovered in images taken on August 17, commenced in March and April, as confirmed by the commercial satellite image provider Vantor. While the primary purpose of the structures remains uncertain, several resemble early warning radar facilities seen in other parts of the South China Sea, suggesting a potential link to the eventual military operations at Antelope Reef, a Vantor spokesperson noted.

In a previous report, Reuters disclosed that China had completed the initial phase of construction at Antelope Reef, a move that underscores the South China Sea as a region rapidly militarizing between China and its allies, including the United States. This development could become crucial in any future conflict over Taiwan. Antelope Reef, the larger of the two islets, measures nearly 6 kilometers in length and features a straight coastline exceeding 3 kilometers, potentially accommodating a runway.

Yagong Island, however, is significantly smaller, located 14 kilometers northeast of Antelope Reef, within the Crescent Group in the western Paracels. The Chinese defense ministry has not yet commented on the matter, and state media have maintained that Antelope Reef will serve civilian purposes such as weather forecasting, fisheries protection, and scientific research.

China seized the Paracels from the navy of the former South Vietnam in 1974. Vietnam, which claims the entire grouping, has been expanding its base network in the Spratlys, located further south. Both the Spratlys and the surrounding waters are claimed by Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia, Taiwan, and Brunei. Vietnam's foreign ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Reuters.

Regional security analysts and military attaches suggest that the construction activities bolster China's military grip on the northern section of the crucial trade waterway. Damien Symon, an open-source intelligence tracker monitoring Paracels activity, posited that a radar facility is plausible, though confirmation remains pending.

Collin Koh, a Singapore-based security scholar, hypothesized that the installation might be a standalone observation post, but opined that it is more likely a radar station.