A recent study by scientists has revealed that a massive base in the southern part of the South China Sea has enabled China to achieve the fastest response times to emergencies in the region.
According to a peer-reviewed study published this month by a team of scientists led by Su Fenzhen from the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the incorporation of the Yongshu Reef port has significantly improved China’s accessibility for search and rescue operations in the South China Sea.
Yongshu, the Chinese name for Fiery Cross Reef, is part of the Spratly Islands, a region claimed by multiple countries and referred to as the Nansha Islands in China.
Faster response linked to infrastructure
The study found that the average minimum response time to the Spratlys has been significantly reduced to 15.54 hours, with an area coverage rate exceeding 99%. Previously, reaching the Spratlys from Chinese ports took over 33 hours, placing China at a disadvantage compared to other countries in the region, the South China Morning Post reported.
The results were compared with neighboring countries, indicating that Malaysia had the shortest average response time at 16.26 hours. Brunei, the Philippines, and Vietnam also demonstrated significantly faster response times than China, with average accessibility in the waters under 19 hours.
China did not establish permanent facilities on the island until 1987. Back then, the island’s area was smaller than a football field. Starting in 2014, China began large-scale construction, rapidly expanding the land mass.
Experts predict that the island could become China’s most advanced military base and strategic hub in the South China Sea, potentially growing to 23 square miles (60 square kilometers)—about the size of Manhattan.
Marine accidents are common in the Nansha waters due to factors such as resource development, freedom of navigation, and maritime safety concerns. These waters are not only a key strategic passage for China’s maritime trade but also an essential marine resource base, with significant importance for national defense and maritime transport.
China leads rescue missions Islands
According to the Chinese Ministry of Transport, there have been several recent rescue operations in the area. In March of last year, a Panamanian cargo ship lost power in the southwestern waters of the Spratly Islands. A rescue ship was sent from Fiery Cross Reef to tow the vessel 1,100 nautical miles (2,037 km) to the mouth of the Pearl River in southern China.
In September, an unidentified foreign cargo ship experienced engine failure west of Fiery Cross Reef during a passing typhoon. With the Chinese military base less than 10 km away, a rescue team quickly towed the ship to safety and guarded it until its engine was repaired.
Although China occupies only seven sites in the Spratly Islands, these comprise the largest area and facilities, compared to Vietnam’s 29 sites and the Philippines’ 11.
