Thread by @olliekarp

In today's #dailysoup, I'll introduce another disputed reef in the "Union Banks group" of the Spratly group of islands, the Hughes Reef.

It is known for containing loitering Chinese vessels, as well as an illegal artificial island base.

1/16

Just like the Whitsun Reef, the Hughes Reef is also a part of the "Union Banks group" of the Spratly group of islands, located W of Palawan.

The Hughes Reef is located SW of the Whitsun Reef.

For more about the Whitsun Reef, read more here:

2/16 https://t.co/Sy5gwRHv1q

https://twitter.com/olliekarp/status/1657106194367123456?s=20

The Hughes Reef, just like other areas of the SCS, has natural resources (e.g. oil and fish), and its location is strategic coz it is in the middle of a lot of SCS reefs.

China has been illegally claiming the reef, even if it's in the EEZs of the Philippines x Vietnam.

3/16

China illegally claims the Hughes Reef through sending Chinese vessels to loiter around the area and dredging the reef, hoping to turn the low-tide elevation into "bigger artificial islands".

The dredging is done by CCCC. Read more here:

4/16

https://twitter.com/olliekarp/status/1628479298733735937?s=20

1) Chinese illegal artificial islands in the Hughes Reef

Satellite images from the AMTI in the years 2008 and 2010 show Hughes Reef being a natural low-tide elevation with very little man-made structures.

However, this changed when China did something sussy in the reef.

5/16

AMTI satellite images show that Chinese dredging ships began to illegally dump sand into the Hughes Reef in March 28, 2014.

Then, satellite images show a weird-looking artificial island being erected in the reef in May 5, 2014.

6/16

From 2014 until the present, satellite images show progress in China's construction of the illegal artificial island in the Hughes Reef.

The structures in the artificial island appear to be something like a miniature military base, especially when a helipad is present.

7/16

Closer satellite images identified specific structures present in the Hughes Reef, including 100mm/56 calibre guns being installed beside a multi-storey building at the western side of the artificial island.

Moreover, a helipad and comms x observation towers are present.

8/16

As per a past entry, in 2015, satellite photos from Jane's Defence Weekly show that the dredging ships building the Chinese illegal artificial island base in the Hughes Reef came from a shady Chinese firm called the CCCC.



9/16

https://twitter.com/olliekarp/status/1628479313803886592?s=20

Then, as a response to China's illegal dredging activities in the SCS, especially in the Hughes Reef, a US Navy destroyer, as well as two US B-52 bomber planes, went near the artificial islands to monitor their activities,...

10/16

...as well as to practise freedom of navigation in the SCS.

China responded by warning that it would "take necessary measures if the US continues monitoring the artificial islands". This was followed by Chinese false claims that "the islands are for civilian purposes".

11/16

Then, Washington responded to China's false claims by expressing concern that Beijing could use the artificial islands to strengthen their claims and even control the SCS.

If China continues the progress in building the artificial island in the Hughes Reef, then...

12/16

...it can be very dangerous coz it could give Beijing easier access to military and surveillance activities in the other SCS reefs, especially when the Hughes Reef is located in the middle of many SCS reefs.

13/16

2) Loitering Chinese vessels in the Hughes Reef

A source from @AndrewSErickson indicated that Chinese maritime militia vessels from PLA-linked "Fancheng Fisheries" also loitered in the Hughes Reef, as indicated in their AIS tracks.

14/16

For the years 2021-22, many Chinese maritime militia vessels continued to loiter around the artificial island base at Hughes Reef as if they "own the place".

15/16

Then, from 2022 until the present, many Chinese maritime militia vessels continue to loiter around the Hughes Reef, while the artificial island base continues to operate.

16/16

Support my work:

Related entries:
Entry #60 (South China Sea dispute) - https://t.co/WSUt6Q9i8K

Entry #62 (Scarborough Shoal) - https://t.co/EdtJG47XaM

Entry #65 (Whitsun Reef) - https://t.co/htFTe7v1lJbuymeacoffee.com/olliekarp

https://twitter.com/olliekarp/status/1654762604278210560?s=20

https://twitter.com/olliekarp/status/1655631123739979776?s=20

https://twitter.com/olliekarp/status/1657106194367123456?s=20

Related entries (cont.):
Entry #3 (CHEC x CCCC) -

Entry #61 (CHEC x CCCC, part 2) - https://t.co/8Mo1AMFfPI

Similar entries:
Entry #2 (Ream Naval Base) - https://t.co/CPvZlwCNrH

Entry #11 (Espacio Lejano Station) - https://t.co/ifkeyzMyba

https://twitter.com/olliekarp/status/1628479298733735937?s=20

https://twitter.com/olliekarp/status/1655142629997449216?s=20

https://twitter.com/olliekarp/status/1628108129748787201?s=20

https://twitter.com/olliekarp/status/1631394618301358109?s=20

Similar entries (cont.):
Entry #42 (Coco Islands) -

https://twitter.com/olliekarp/status/1644654800603332608?s=20

This is Entry #66 of the #dailysoup. For previous entries, kindly visit this link:

Shoutouts: @AndrewSErickson, @supbrow, @FMangosingINQ, @d_viekass, @Aaron_MatthewIL, @Julio_Amador3, @jaytaryela, @coastguardph, @duandangbit.ly/thedailysoup

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