Satellite imagery confirms that China has begun new construction on Yagong Island in the Paracel Islands, just 14 km from Antelope Reef, where Beijing is developing its largest artificial island, Reuters reported.

Analysts believe the new structures could serve as radar or surveillance facilities, strengthening China’s military footprint in the northern South China Sea, though Beijing insists they are for civilian use.

Satellite images taken in August 2026 show fresh installations on Yagong Island, part of the Crescent Group in the Paracels. The construction began earlier this year, with three-pronged structures now visible.

Security experts suggest these resemble radar or early-warning facilities similar to those China has deployed elsewhere in the South China Sea. Their proximity to Antelope Reef indicates they may be designed to support the larger base under development there.

Antelope Reef itself has undergone extensive land reclamation, creating an artificial island nearly 6 km long. Analysts note that its straight coastline, stretching over 3 km, could eventually accommodate a runway.

This would make Antelope Reef one of China’s most strategically significant outposts in the northern South China Sea, extending its reach closer to Vietnam and enhancing its ability to project power across contested waters.

Yagong Island, though smaller, is strategically positioned to complement Antelope Reef. Together, they form part of a broader Chinese effort to consolidate control over the Paracels, which Beijing seized from South Vietnam in 1974.

Vietnam continues to claim sovereignty over the entire archipelago, while other nations including the Philippines, Malaysia, Taiwan, and Brunei also maintain overlapping claims in the wider South China Sea.

China’s defence ministry has not commented on the new construction, and state media continue to frame the developments as serving civilian purposes such as weather forecasting, fisheries protection, and scientific research.

However, the dual-use nature of the facilities raises concerns among regional analysts, who argue that they could significantly enhance China’s surveillance and military presence in the area.

The timing of these developments is notable, as tensions in the South China Sea remain high. The region is increasingly militarised, with the United States and its allies conducting freedom of navigation operations to challenge China’s expansive claims.

Analysts warn that the new installations could play a critical role in any future conflict over Taiwan, given their location in the northern South China Sea.

Vietnam has responded by expanding its own network of bases in the Spratly Islands further south, underscoring the escalating contest for control of strategic maritime territory.

The construction on Yagong Island adds another layer to this competition, highlighting Beijing’s determination to strengthen its hold on the Paracels and extend its influence across the Indo-Pacific.

Agencies