MANILA, Philippines — China has new communications facilities at a military base it built over Kagitingan (Fiery Cross) Reef, indicating its intention to use the fortified feature for its forward signal and surveillance operations in the South China Sea, the Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative (AMTI) said Friday.
Kagitingan Reef is now a fortified island fortress with a 3,000-meter-long runway capable of accommodating bombers and other large aircraft.
In its latest brief, AMTI of the Washington-based Center for Strategic and International Studies said that while the Chinese military presence on Kagitingan is less formidable than in other fortified features like Zamora (Subi) and Panganiban (Mischief) Reefs, the base on Kagitingan has advance monitoring and communication facilities.
Citing satellite images, the AMTI said that Beijing has completed installing state-of-the-art communications facilities on Kagitingan.
“Fiery Cross might be serving as a signal intelligence/communications hub for Chinese in the whole area of South China Sea and beyond,” AMTI said.
The smallest of China’s “Big 3” artificial islands in the disputed Spratlys archipelago, Kagitingan is one of the seven formerly obscure maritime features in the disputed region that China occupied to press its massive maritime and territorial claim in the South China Sea.
While included in the Kalayaan Island Group (KIG), Kagitingan is closer to the territorial and maritime waters of Malaysia.
Analysts say the area can also be used by China as a forward operating base once it decides to press its maritime and territorial claim over Indonesia’s Natuna Archipelago.
Natuna Archipelago has 154 islets, only 27 of which are inhabited.
Located in Indonesia’s northernmost region in the South China Sea, the islets are also considered highly vulnerable to China’s incursions.
“Due to their proximity to the disputed features in the South China Sea, Indonesia’s Natuna Islands could be another flashpoint in the area,” Singapore-based S. Rajaratman School of International Studies warned.
Kagitingan, meanwhile, has other military features including hangars and hanger space for 20 fighter jets and four larger hangers for bombers, transport aircraft and fueling stations.
“One of the point defense facilities built around the base in 2016 was similar to point defenses that now exist on all of China’s artificial islands, sporting a combination of large guns and probable close-in weapons (CIWS) emplacements,” AMTI reported.
AMTI’s satellite monitoring over Zamora Reef late last year showed military facilities on both the northern and southern part of the reclaimed island.
China’s base on Zamora is now causing concern among Manila-based military strategists, as the area is only 12 nautical miles from the Philippine-occupied Pag-Asa Island.
Aside from a 3,000-meter long runway, Zamora now has underground storage facilities for fuel and water.
Zamora also has underground tunnels for ammunition and other materiel as well as reinforced structures with retractable roofs believed to be shelters for mobile missiles launchers.
AMTI’s latest monitoring over Panganiban Reef also showed a communication facility with radome installed.
Ayungin Shoal, meanwhile, is being guarded by a contingent of Philippine Marines aboard a grounded landing tank ship, BRP Sierra Madre.
Former national secuirty adviser Roilo Golez, a former naval officer, said he was wondering why the government remains silent on China’s seizing of features within Philippine territory.
“Why is the Philippine government not protesting the militarization of Subi Reef? It is only 12 nautical miles from Pag-Asa in the KIG, part of the Philippine territory as per Republic Act 9522. Like Fiery Cross and Mischief Reefs, it is a threat to Philippine security,” Golez said.
Meanwhile, Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano on Friday stressed that the Philippines has been protesting the reported activities of China in the West Philippine Sea.
“Just because we’re not announcing diplomatic action does not mean that we are not making it,” he said in a press briefing. “That’s all on record, whether verbal or written. We’re protecting our marine resources, our territory, our sovereignty rights.”
The secretary said Filipino and Chinese officials discussed the issue during the “no-holds barred” bilateral consultative meeting in Manila last Feb. 14.
“The bilateral consultative committee is actually the venue agreed upon by our Presidents (where we can) discuss disputes and disagreements (as well as) how to resolve different issues between Philippines and China,” he added.
Cayetano said Chinese officials found it unfair for the Philippines to single out China in its strong objections, citing activities by other parties that have claims in the region.
“We made a very strong objection. They responded by saying it’s a complex issue,” he said.
The DFA said that during the consultative meeting, there were points of disagreement between the two countries over the issue, but noted that the parties agreed that the “best way forward is to cooperate and properly manage issues of mutual concern and preserve security and stability in the region.”
“The Duterte administration is unwavering in its commitment to protect our country’s territorial claims and maritime entitlements. Let me also say that we are also of the position that ongoing territorial disputes should be resolved in a manner consistent with the spirit of good neighborly relations and the 1992 UNCLOS (United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea),” said Cayetano. – Janvic Mateo
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