Chinese work gathering pace on Antelope Reef in South China Sea
A satellite view of Antelope Reef in the South China Sea on Sept. 25. | Vantor / via REUTERS
Oct 3, 2026
Hong Kong – Chinese construction of a runway on Antelope Reef in the Paracels archipelago is well underway with analysts estimating it could be completed by mid-2027, strengthening Beijing’s military control over the disputed South China Sea.
Satellite images reviewed by reporters show grading work, piles of gravel and concrete, and compaction cranes in operation to build a full-scale runway that military attaches and security analysts say could be one of China’s most important offshore bases in the region.
The images, taken on Sept. 25 by commercial satellite imagery provider Vantor, also show a fully loaded gravel barge heading to a newly built wharf.
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