New China runway threatens Pag-asa Island

A military historian on Friday raised the alarm over recent satellite photos of the Chinese-controlled Zamora (Subi) Reef in the South China Sea that showed the construction of a combat-capable air facility.

Jose Custodio said this development may pose a danger to the Philippines’ control of nearby Pag-asa Island—which is just 12 nautical miles away—once the base becomes fully operational.

Photos published on Sept. 10 by the website The Diplomat showed the subgrading in Zamora Reef for a runway approximately 60 meters long.

The photos were taken by a commercial satellite imaging company, Digital Globe, last Sept. 3.

According to The Diplomat, the size and shape of the landfill at Zamora Reef can accommodate a 3,300-meter runway, and a parallel taxiway like the one constructed by the Chinese at Fiery Cross Reef.

Blockades feared

While there is no laying of pavements yet, a section of the northern part of the reef has been widened by extending a retaining wall into the sea and filling the enclosed water area with sediment and sand, the website said.

Custodio pointed out that once the Chinese begin operating such a huge base, it can seal off the area with blockades and no-fly zones.

“We are in danger of losing Pag-asa Island because it’s such a huge base that the Chinese are constructing here. And if they are able to operate this, then they can practically seal off this area,” he told reporters.

Pag-asa Island is a seat of the Kalayaan municipality of Palawan. There are about 200 civilians and soldiers occupying the island, with the government conducting supply missions to support them.

However, China is claiming that the Philippines illegally occupied the island, calling it Thitu Island.

China’s other structures

China is also building structures in Panganiban (Mischief), Kagitingan (Fiery Cross), Kennan (Chigua), Mabini (Johnson South), Burgos (Gaven) and Calderon (Cuarteron) Reefs. These are also being claimed by the Philippines.

The Philippines has filed an arbitration case over the matter, claiming that the “nine-dotted line” of China violates the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, particularly on exclusive economic zones and territorial seas.

Sought for comment, Department of National Defense spokesperson Peter Paul Galvez said the photos published by The Dipomat “bear much similarity with the images we have been seeing.”

Custodio said the residents might first encounter severe shortages as China’s way of pressuring the Philippines to abandon Pag-asa Island or to accede to China’s terms.

“We will be then sucked into what China wants. They can actually hold our garrisons hostage to make us amenable to Chinese dictates… That is the problem of the next administration when this thing kicks in,” he said, noting that the base on Zamora Reef may be functional by next year.

Harassment expected

He said it may become more difficult for the Philippines to maintain Pag-asa Island as more harassment from China should be expected.

The military historian pointed out that once the base on Zamora Reef becomes fully functional, this may affect resupply missions to Pag-asa Island.

“China can threaten and keep on applying pressure on Pag-asa Island that will make us come into terms with them,” Custodio said.

He also urged the Philippine government to be more resolute in its stance and to beef up the capabilities of its Philippine Coast Guard and Philippine Navy to protect Filipino fishermen in these areas.