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Island Born in Months: China's South China Sea Surge
4 Jun
Summary
- Antelope Reef transformed from underwater to 6-sq-km island in six months.
- Millions of tonnes of sand dredged to create solid land at rapid pace.
- Vietnam and Philippines are also building up reefs in the region.
Antelope Reef, located in the northwest of the South China Sea, has undergone a remarkable transformation within the last six months. Previously mostly submerged, it now spans 6 square kilometers of solid land, featuring new buildings.
This rapid expansion was achieved by dredging millions of tonnes of sand from the seabed. China possesses the world's largest fleet of cutter suction dredgers, capable of dredging substantial volumes of sand per hour, likely setting a record for such operations.
China is not the sole nation undertaking this type of development. Vietnam has recently begun enhancing its reefs in the South China Sea, following years of observing China's land reclamation activities to support territorial claims. Other claimants, such as the Philippines, are also engaged in similar, albeit less extensive, projects.
