Fiery Cross Reef Base

China's development of Fiery Cross Reef represents one of the most extensive land reclamation projects in the Spratly Islands. Between 2014 and 2016, large-scale dredging operations expanded the natural reef into a 2.74-square-kilometer artificial island, known as Yongshu Jiao in Chinese. According to satellite analysis published by the Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative (AMTI), the centerpiece of this expansion is a 3,125-meter runway. This airfield is physically capable of supporting various military aircraft, including heavy transport planes, fighters, and bombers.

The military infrastructure built on the reef is extensive and remains subject to close regional monitoring. Observations published by the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) indicate the presence of hardened aircraft hangars, missile shelters, and buried storage facilities for fuel and ammunition. Additionally, AMTI assessments from late 2025 detail upgrades to signals intelligence (SIGINT) and electronic warfare (EW) capabilities, including newly paved antenna pads and mobile radar units. These installations appear designed to enhance situational awareness and electronic monitoring in the southern sector of the South China Sea.

The sovereignty of Fiery Cross Reef remains highly contested, with Vietnam, Taiwan, and the Philippines maintaining active claims over the area. While international rulings, such as the 2016 arbitral tribunal decision, rejected Beijing's historical claims to the region, China has continued to consolidate its military presence. Fleet deployment patterns on the reef undergo periodic adjustments; a 2026 AMTI study documented a temporary decrease in maritime militia vessel activity at Fiery Cross, with ships shifting toward Mischief Reef. Analysts suggest this represents a tactical reallocation of resources rather than a reduction in overall operational readiness.