How do the Chinese build artificial islands

In 2014, the creation of Chinese artificial islands in the South China Sea began. Literally a year, Chinese engineers have managed to create several areas of land with a total area of more than 4 км₂. Construction of such an island begins with geological exploration. Specialists study the sea bottom relief and select suitable elevations. It can be submerged islands, underwater rocks or coral reefs. Only then, construction materials are brought to the selected site, including special concrete, designed for hydraulic structures. Then, special installations lift the sand from the bottom of the sea and spray it in the selected direction until a sufficiently high land area is formed.

China is washing the giant sand masses on the reefs and shoals, artificially increasing the number of islands in the Spratly archipelago. China's Asian rivals see this activity as an attempt to impose a hand on the entire South China Sea.

The Chinese side has previously been involved in the creation of artificial islands, for example, near Guangzhou. But then new areas of land were needed only to increase the land area of the country. Now the engineering solutions conceal quite specific geopolitical tasks.

Control over Parasel Islands and Spratly Archipelago

Formally, both archipelagos are considered neutral territory, but 6 states are fighting for the right to possess them: China, Vietnam, Philippines, Brunei, Taiwan and Malaysia. Interest in small, rocky islands is primarily due to their favorable geographical location, as well as the presence of oil and gas deposits in the South China Sea. According to experts' calculations, the reserves of minerals in the continental shelf are so large that they can provide China with a new industrial breakthrough. Since the inception of China, the Chinese authorities considered these islands as their own. Even on the printed in China geographical maps of Spratly and Paracel Islands are designated as part of the Celestial Empire.

In the 1980s, the territorial dispute over the two archipelagos even resulted in an armed conflict between Vietnam and China. During the fighting 70 people were killed. In 2016, the Hague Court of Arbitration concluded that China has no right to possession of Spartai and the Paracel Islands. However, the Chinese authorities called this decision unfounded and continued its maritime expansion.

The new islands can withstand large buildings, human settlements and intelligence systems, including radars. That is why China's 'islandbuilding' is a concern for Vietnam, the Philippines and other Southeast Asian countries, which also claim to be Spratly.

The International Maritime Law states that the state water area should be two hundred miles. Moreover, this distance is counted from the extreme land point belonging to this state. The sea and ocean spaces beyond this zone, which are not the water area of another country, are considered neutral. Thus, the emergence of new land areas should lead to a revision of maritime boundaries between states with access to the South China Sea. Control of the South China Sea, military build-up and protection of water transport routes The artificial islands are being militarized rapidly. Photos taken by American satellites show that anti-aircraft and missile defense systems have already appeared on the new islands.

All this shows that China intends to increase its military power in these territories and expand its sphere of influence. The Navy, based on the new islands, is also responsible for two important tasks facing China: Ensuring the safe transportation of oil from Arab countries and protecting Chinese drilling rigs. All of this means huge customs duties coming into the Chinese treasury and the unhindered development of oil and gas fields.

The territorial conflict in the South China Sea may lead to far-reaching consequences. On the regional level, China's expansion has already led to local clashes. Vietnam, the second contender for dominance in these waters, has already undergone a series of anti-Chinese rallies and protest marches.

As a result, several Chinese enterprises were defeated, and the very stay of Chinese citizens in Vietnam became extremely unsafe. At the highest level, this conflict means that Southeast Asian countries are uniting around the United States, China's strongest geopolitical enemy. According to some analysts, further Chinese expansion may lead to the beginning of armed struggle for dominance in the Pacific Ocean.