'Hidden expansion': Chinese team proposes tunnels for South China Sea islands
- In Reports
- 09:32 PM, May 23, 2024
- Myind Staff
A group of Chinese scientists has devised a technique for constructing tunnels beneath artificial islands in the South China Sea, which serves to bolster Beijing's assertions over the disputed region.
The islands, especially within the Spratly reef chain, are densely populated and subject to competing claims from various nations, including China, Taiwan, Vietnam, Malaysia, and the Philippines.
In the past, the soft coral sand in the area was considered unsuitable for underground construction. Nevertheless, scientists from the Ocean University of China have devised a novel approach. They inject a slurry blended with fine cement particles into the ground, which stabilizes the substrate, allowing for the safe construction of tunnels without concerns about water seepage or structural collapse.
The team proposed employing this technique to construct extensive tunnels beneath China's artificial islands. This method offers a means to bolster Beijing's presence in the region without eliciting reactions from neighbouring countries. Chen Xuguang, the head of the engineering team, highlighted in a peer-reviewed paper published in April, "As the demands placed on the islands or reefs grow, more personnel are stationed on them, and the living facilities on the islands are experiencing shortages."
The suggested tunnels could serve various purposes, including accommodating living quarters, storing weapons, and providing shelter from severe weather conditions. This would enhance the military and economic significance of islands such as Meiji (Mischief), Yongshu (Fiery Cross), and Zhubi (Subi).
In the South China Sea, there are six parties with competing claims, with China asserting the most expansive claims. Despite a 2016 ruling by an international tribunal rejecting China's claims, Beijing has refused to acknowledge the decision.
According to the Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative, China maintains 20 outposts in the Paracel Islands and seven in the Spratlys, having controlled Scarborough Shoal since 2012. Since 2013, China has undertaken extensive dredging and artificial island-building activities in the Spratlys, resulting in the creation of 3,200 acres of new land and an expansion of its presence in the Paracels.
Furthermore, China has fully militarised three of its artificial islands in the South China Sea, equipping them with missile systems, fighter jets, and other military infrastructure.
Senior US naval commander Admiral John C. Aquilino remarked in 2022 that the purpose of those islands is to enhance the offensive capabilities of the People's Republic of China (PRC). He highlighted that they can accommodate fighters, bombers, and various offensive missile systems. Aquilino also expressed concerns that China's military buildup in the region is destabilising.
In 2015, during a visit to the White House, Chinese President Xi Jinping stated that the construction activities undertaken by China in the South China Sea's Nansha (Spratly) Islands were not aimed at any specific country and would not affect them. He emphasised China's commitment to maintaining peace and stability in the South China Sea.
Earlier this month, the Philippines escalated surveillance efforts in its South China Sea territory, alleging that China was constructing a new artificial island. The Philippine Coast Guard dispatched a vessel to Sabina Shoal in the Spratly archipelago, claiming that China's construction activities were causing harm to coral reefs. China refuted these allegations, urging Manila to resolve disputes through diplomatic negotiations.
Image Source: South China Morning Post
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