Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 5) – The pace of construction on Woody Island remains high as China continues to install new facilities and structures there, according to a United States-based technology firm.
The island is located in the Paracel Island group in the highly contested South China Sea. Even though the Philippines does not have any claim on Woody Island, it serves as China’s blueprint for future military developments in other Chinese-occupied South China Sea islands, including the Spratlys.
China, Taiwan, and Vietnam are the countries who have competing territorial claims on Woody Island.
Between August last year and March this year, the American tech firm Simularity revealed it has noticed land reclamation being done on the island.
“Between August 2020 and March 2021, 2.4 hectares of sand were filled in behind the retaining wall, leaving 0.8 hectares still to be filled in to complete the 3.2-hectare land reclamation,” read the report by Simularity.
The retaining wall was constructed between February to August last year and considered the first phase of the land reclamation, it said.
Moreover, extensive erosion mitigation was also done on the north coast of Woody Island, the report also said. It showed that groynes and accropode blocks were built to prevent shore erosion and to resist the action of waves.
During the same period, a new four-meter-diameter radome was also established on the island. Simularity said the construction of the facility began in November 2020 and was completed no later than Feb. 28 this year.
According to the firm, a radome is a “structural, weatherproof enclosure that protects a radar antenna.” It also conceals the antenna from view and protects from the weather.
The report also disclosed that at least eight new structures are being built there since August last year.
New solar panels were also installed on 22 buildings on the island, Simularity added.
