It adds that in February, the Chinese regime had close to 200 troops garrisoned on the Fiery Cross Reef, which also has radar and surveillance capabilities.
“Fiery Cross may now be more than three times larger than Itu Aba, formerly the largest of the Spratlys,” it states.
According to IHS Jane’s, the images also show that the Chinese regime is continuing to dredge and build an artificial harbor on the southeast corner of the island.
It states that other satellite images show the Chinese regime is building more artificial islands on the nearby Subi Reef, which it may join together to create another landmass large enough for a second airstrip.
“While Fiery Cross Reef is to the west of the Spratly Islands archipelago, Subi Reef is on the north side of the island group and is only 25 km from Thitu/Pagasa island, which is occupied by the Philippines and has a civilian population,” it states.
