By Kevin Uhrmacher, Kevin Schaul and Simon Denyer

Land reclamation at Fiery Cross Reef

CSIS Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative/DigitalGlobe

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The Washington Post

New satellite imagery of remote islands in the South China Sea shows island-building projects have continued despite a Chinese assertion in August that construction had halted.

Photos taken as recently as Sept. 8 show extensive construction work on several of the islands, including Fiery Cross Reef, Subi Reef and Mischief Reef, to build airstrips, helipads, a radar dome and what looks like satellite communication facilities and a surveillance tower.

The United States has called on China to stop land reclamation efforts in the area known as the Spratly Islands.

The images were provided to The Post by the Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative, a watchdog group that monitors territorial claims and events in East Asian waters.

China has been spotted building artificial islands in the South China Sea by dumping massive amounts of sand onto below-sea-level coral reefs.

In China’s view, though, it is merely protecting and making use of its legally owned land. A spokesperson for China’s Foreign Ministry asserted in a statement that its actions are legal because the reefs “fall within the scope of China’s sovereignty.”

The dispute will raise tensions during the U.S. visit by Chinese President Xi Jinping that begins Sept. 24.

[Chinese activity in South China Sea poses complications for Obama]

The images below show Chinese land reclamation projects at seven locations in the Spratly Islands.

Fiery Cross Reef

With land reclamation complete here, attention has turned to developing facilities on the island. Construction of buildings and the paving of an airstrip are among the activities pictured below. The images also show a naval ship docked on the island.

June 2015

Fiery Cross
Fiery Cross
Fiery Cross
Fiery Cross

Sept. 2015

Fiery Cross
Fiery Cross

CSIS Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative/DigitalGlobe

Subi Reef

This reef has changed dramatically in recent months. The southern, western, and northern edges of the reef have been reclaimed and an access channel to the inner harbor cut out. Dredgers continued to operate here in June. Two cement plants are being built along the western bank.

July 2012

Subi

Jan. 2014

Subi

Jan. 2015

Subi

March 3, 2015

Subi

June 5, 2015

Subi

Sept. 3, 2015

Subi

Sept. 2015

Subi

Subi

CSIS Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative/DigitalGlobe

Mischief Reef

The northern, western and southern landmasses constructed in the early Spring of 2015 have now been connected and are being reinforced with seawalls. Recent widening of the southern entrance to the reef may suggest a future role as a naval base, AMTI says.

Sept. 2015

Mischief

Sept. 2015

Mischief

Mischief

CSIS Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative/DigitalGlobe

Cuarteron Reef

Most construction and dredging took place here in the summer of 2014.

Jan. 2012

Cuarteron

March 2014

Cuarteron

November 2014

Cuarteron

CSIS Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative/DigitalGlobe

Gaven Reef

Construction at Gaven Reef began in March 2014. The new island measures approximately 300 by 250 meters, with causeways extending from the center.

Nov. 2007

Gaven

Oct. 2014

Gaven

March 2015

Gaven

CSIS Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative/DigitalGlobe

Johnson South Reef

Facilities here include a small port, two helipads, three possible satellite communication antennae, two possible radar towers, six possible security and surveillance towers for weapons, four possible weapons towers, a lighthouse, a solar farm and two wind turbines, AMTI says.

Nov. 2004

Johnson

Jan. 2012

Johnson

Jan. 2014

Johnson

April 2014

Johnson

July 2014

Johnson

Sept. 2014

Johnson

Nov. 2014

Johnson

April 2015

Johnson

May 2015

Johnson

June 2015

Johnson

CSIS Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative/DigitalGlobe

Hughes Reef

Construction began in the summer of 2014. What was once a 380 square meter concrete platform on stilts has been expanded to a 75,000 square meter island through dredging and reclamation activity.

March 2008

Hughes

May 2014

Hughes

Nov. 2014

Hughes

March 2015

Hughes

CSIS Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative/DigitalGlobe