China’s Antelope Reef outpost

China is building a new base on a remote atoll,
including a full-scale runway, that could extend
Beijing’s military reach in the South China Sea

President Xi Jinping –
aggressively trying
to assert control
in region

PARACEL
ISLANDS

Antelope
Reef


5km
3 miles

South
China
Sea

Pacific
Ocean

CHINA

TAIWAN

Taipei

Paracel
Islands

Manila

VIETNAM

PHILIPPINES

MALAYSIA


300km
185 miles

China’s
Nine-Dash
Line maritime
claim

Reuters says new satellite images
show piles of gravel and compaction cranes in
operation, building what analysts say will be
one of China’s most important offshore bases

2024

AUG 2026

Runway

Ship
channel

Source: Reuters
Pictures: Getty Images, Google Earth Pro, Soar/Vantor
© GRAPHIC NEWS