By Nathan Swire
China’s state-owned Xinhua News has reported the opening of a maritime rescue facility on Yongshu Reef (Fiery Cross Reef), one of the artificial islands it has built in the Spratly Islands region of the South China Sea.In its report, Xinhua also noted that China’s Ministry of Transport has stationed two rescue ships in the Spratly Islands since July, 2018, staffed with rescuers and diving equipment. According to Xinhua, these ships have rescued 16 people and two ships since arriving, and have salvaged over $1m worth of property.
The construction of this rescue facility is part of China’s larger campaign to developmilitary and administrative control of the South China Sea region. Three of the artificial islands in the Spratlys contain new military-grade airfields, and there are recent reports of missile emplacements, storage facilities and surveillance equipment stationed throughout the islands. China has also built up civilian capabilities on the artificial islands, including ecological conservation and restoration facilities, and marine observation stations.
Philippines Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin has announced that his nation will protest the opening of the rescue center, in keeping with the 2016 tribunal rulingthat China’s claims in the South China Sea exceed its rights under international law. However, the office of Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte had previously endorsed the building of the rescue center, highlighting different approaches to China within the Philippine government.
The United States views China’s building of military and civilian facilities in the South China Sea as an attempt to claim sovereignty over the region in excess of its rights under international law. To push back against these excessive claims, the United States has conducted frequent “Freedom of Navigation Operations” (FONOP) over recent years to demonstrate that South China Sea remains international waters.