New Delhi, April 18: A significant shift is occurring in the South China Sea, as the region appears to be increasingly under China’s influence. This change comes as the United States diverts its attention to ongoing conflicts in the Middle East, according to a recent report.
The report by Lin Maung in Mekong News highlights that China is transforming the Antelope Reef into an artificial fortress. This situation exemplifies the consequences of weakened surveillance.
The report indicates that during the ongoing conflicts in the Middle East, the U.S. has redeployed its carrier strike groups, resulting in nearly a 30% reduction in surveillance flights over the South China Sea compared to the end of 2025. Capitalizing on this situation, China has intensified its presence in the area and accelerated coral excavation at Antelope Reef to expand its territory.
According to Maung, the USS Theodore Roosevelt remains the only major U.S. carrier strike group in the region capable of countering China. Previously, the USS Abraham Lincoln and USS George Washington were stationed in the South China Sea but are now patrolling waters in the Middle East.
Satellite images from the European Space Agency and other commercial sources reveal the extensive scale of China’s plans. What was once a small outpost is now evolving into a substantial landmass, reportedly covering over six square kilometers.
The report states that engineers are preparing to create runways by straightening the edges of the reef, potentially exceeding 2,700 meters in length. This expansion will be large enough to accommodate fighter jets, surveillance aircraft, and heavy bombers. This development is not an isolated case.
The transformation of Antelope Reef indicates China’s intention to assert control over the Western Paracel region, a vital area through which nearly one-third of the world’s maritime trade passes.
Despite the Hague Tribunal’s rejection of China’s “nine-dash line” claims in 2016, the report suggests that China is attempting to reinforce these claims through its activities.
The report also describes this as a strategic approach: seizing territory, intimidating neighboring countries, and reshaping maritime laws to suit its interests. If the U.S. does not maintain its patrols and presence, this expansion could continue.
According to the report, China’s actions are gradually creating a situation akin to “maritime occupation.”
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