China installs buoys in disputed Spratly Islands for ‘safety of navigation’

China follows move by the Philippines to deploy the floating markers near reefs in the contested waters
Several countries in the region have attempted to assert administrative control to strengthen their claims

South China Sea

Liu Zhen

Published: 9:35pm, 24 May 2023

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China has placed at least three new light buoys in the disputed waters of the South China Sea following similar deployments by the Philippines two weeks ago.

The light buoys were installed near Irving Reef, Whitsun Reef and Gaven Reef in the Spratlys area “to ensure the safety of navigation and maritime operations”, the Chinese Ministry of Transport announced on its official social media account on Wednesday.

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The operation was carried out by the ministry’s South China Sea Navigation Safety Centre, but the announcement did not indicate when the deployments were made, saying only that it happened “recently”.

There was no mention of any action being taken regarding the Philippine operations.

Two weeks ago, the Philippine Coast Guard placed five buoys flying the Philippine national flag off the Irving and Whitsun reefs, as well as the three Philippine-occupied reefs of Flat, Loaita and Lankiam Cay.

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“This move highlights the Philippines’ unwavering resolve to protect its maritime borders and resources and contributes to the safety of maritime trade,” Commodore Jay Tarriela, the coastguard spokesman on South China Sea issues, said at the time on Twitter.

The Whitsun Reef, a coral atoll that only rises above sea level at low tide, was at the centre of an incident in late 2021 when hundreds of Chinese vessels converged there for weeks. Manila said these vessels were Chinese militia and lodged a protest. Beijing claimed the vessels were fishing boats that took shelter from a typhoon.

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The Irving Reef is another traditional fishing ground in the resource-rich South China Sea, while the Gaven Reef is one of seven Spratly reefs China transformed into artificial islands where it later established military bases.

The recent rivalry to install the navigational markers is another sign of the elevated tensions over the complex territorial claims in the contested waters that are disputed by Beijing and Taipei, as well as the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia and Brunei.

Each of the claimants occupies some islands and reefs, especially in the Spratlys, and have attempted to assert their administrative control to strengthen their claims, including the setting up of navigation facilities and signals.

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Last year, the Philippines placed five buoys off the Nanshan, West York, Northeast Cay and Thitu islands – all under its control – to mark its claims. By 2016, China had built lighthouses on five Chinese-controlled artificial islands – on Cuarteron, Johnson South, Subi, Mischief and Fiery Cross reefs. It has also constructed a navigation system in the Paracel Islands.

A code of conduct on the South China Sea between China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations was reportedly undergoing a second reading last week and was expected to be completed by the end of this year.