China launches lighthouse operation in Manila-claimed reef

MANILA, Philippines – Beijing has started the operation of a lighthouse on one of the Manila-claimed reefs in the South China Sea.

China's Xinhua News Agency reported on Tuesday that the Chinese Ministry of Transport held a completion ceremony for the construction of a lighthouse in Zamora or Subi Reef.

The construction of the 55-meter-high lighthouse started in in October 2015. It has a lantern on top and rotating lights inside which is being monitored through a remote control terminal.

The white light that it will emit during nighttime will have a range of 22 nautical miles and a glowing cycle of five seconds, Xinhua reported.

China started the construction of lighthouses in its artificial islands to improve maritime emergency response in the region.

"However, high traffic density, complex navigation condition, severe shortage in aids and response forces have combined to threaten navigation safety and hindered economic and social development in the region," the Xinhua report said.

Beijing also has lighthouse projects at the Calderon (Cuarteron) and Mabini (Johnson) reefs, which are also claimed by Manila.

The Philippines had filed an arbitration case against China before the Permanent Court of Arbitration in connection to its excessive claims in the disputed waters. The international tribunal is expected to issue a decision by May.

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