China building harbor on reef

MANILA, Philippines - Military aerial reconnaissance has shown that the Chinese are building an artificial islet on Mabini (Johnson South) Reef in the West Philippine Sea.

The reef’s rock and sand formation have been replaced with an apple-shaped white sandy islet on which several structures have been built.

A blue building in the middle, with fully grown palm trees dotting the front lawn, is prominent from the air.

China’s reclamation of Mabini Reef has shifted to “greening” – in which grown trees are replanted, including coconut and palm trees.

“The reef is gone as the area is now becoming green with grown up trees including fruit-bearing coconuts,” a senior security official said.

The trees are believed to have been uprooted from China and replanted on the artificial islet.

Several fruit-bearing coconut trees were also planted near the concrete breaker to protect the artificial structure from the waves.

Fishermen told The STAR that Mabini Reef now looks more like an island than a reef because of the trees.

On the north side near the concrete seawall are two smaller structures that are believed to be barracks for Chinese construction workers.

On the left of the blue building is a newly built road leading to the reclamation area where China is building a pier.

Last month, fishermen on their way home from a fishing trip saw a concrete seawall being built on the western side of Mabini Reef.

Recently, they were surprised to see a variety of plants, including coconut and palm trees, lining the area.

Heavy cranes mounted on three ships with huge booms are being used in the construction.

Inland, construction materials, along with heavy equipment like backhoes, heavy cranes, dump trucks, cement mixers, concrete slabs as well as mounds of gravel and sand and steel scaffoldings are also visible from the air.

China is also claiming at least three other reefs within the Philippines’ 200-nautical mile exclusive economic zone.

It has expanded maritime activities in Recto Bank near the northern part of Palawan and in Hasa-Hasa (Half-Moon) Shoal, only 60 nautical miles from Palawan.

It has deployed on a 24/7 basis coast guard vessels around Ayungin Shoal, an area close to Recto Bank and in Panganiban (Mischief) Reef where it has already established a forward naval facility.

Ayungin Shoal also serves as gateway to Pag-Asa Island, the second biggest island and seat of Kalayaan Island municipality.

A confidential report submitted to Malacañang showed that China is also reclaiming four other reefs, all located within the country’s EEZ.

These are Calderon (Cuarteron), McKennan (Hughes), Burgos (Gaven) and Malvar (Eldad) reefs.

China has de facto control of Panganiban (Mischief), Subi and Kagitingan (Fiery Cross) reefs.

China has dismissed as without basis the Philippine diplomatic protest against the reclamation projects.