China Building World’s Largest Offshore Airport: Strategic Triumph or Costly Gamble?

An airfield, buildings, and structures are seen on the artificial island built by China in Mischief Reef in Spratly Islands, South China Sea, on Oct. 25, 2022. Ezra Acayan/Getty Images

Commentary

China is constructing what could be the world’s largest man-made island airport, raising concerns in Japan and South Korea about its potential for military use. China watchers are questioning whether this project will be a groundbreaking success or a costly endeavor.

The airport under construction—Dalian Jinzhouwan International Airport—is in Dalian, a major port city in northeastern China close to South Korea and Japan. This region has long-held strategic value. The city’s existing airport, Dalian Zhoushuizi International, originated from a military airfield built during Japan’s occupation in the early 1900s.

From an economic standpoint, this new airport doesn’t seem sensible for a city of about 7.5 million. Many observers suspect it’s designed for dual use, where civilian infrastructure could be quickly converted for military operations.

The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has a history of reclaiming land for strategic outposts, such as its man-made islands in the South China Sea, which now host military facilities, flouting international maritime laws and ratcheting up regional tensions.

Dalian’s proximity to U.S.-allied nations means a large airport in the city could be swiftly adapted for military use, adding to security concerns and complicating the airport’s long-term outlook.

As tensions rise between communist China and the United States—and with South Korea and Japan tightening military ties with Washington—any large-scale project in this area raises questions about whether it might serve the CCP’s military objectives.

In 2011, Dalian’s local government began reclaiming land from the sea to create an artificial island for a new airport. By 2024, nearly all reclamation efforts were complete, resulting in an island covering approximately 7.7 square miles. With a price tag of $4.3 billion, it will feature a 9.69 million square foot terminal and four runways. Officials say it will serve 80 million passengers and handle a million tons of cargo annually, with final completion slated for 2035.

Many wonder why Dalian needs an airport of this scale, especially when the country’s busiest—Beijing Capital International Airport—handles more than 67 million passengers in 2024. The numbers don’t quite add up economically.

Beyond technical hurdles, the airport’s financial outlook is far from certain. Liaoning Province, where Dalian is located, is heavily indebted and at high risk of default. Meanwhile, the popularity of high-speed rail has eroded some of air travel’s competitiveness.

Teng Fei, a member of China’s National Development and Reform Commission, told Chinese media that the airport’s survival may hinge on forcing nearby cities—or even the Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei region—to rely on Dalian as a hub. Whether that actually happens or is even feasible remains uncertain.

Offshore airports often face unique engineering and ecological challenges. The Dalian site, built on reclaimed land, faces potential ground settlement issues and even subsidence, which pose serious risks to long-term safety and operations. Environmental impacts are also a concern.

A similar project in Sanya, Hainan, damaged coral reefs and harmed endangered species, resulting in an $11 million fine and a requirement for ecological restoration. In Dalian, however, these concerns seem to be overshadowed by political and military factors. The Chinese authorities brushed off concerns, saying that the reclamation would only have a minor impact on coral reefs, but preventative measures would be taken.

For more than a decade, the CCP has invested heavily in massive transportation projects. Many have failed to deliver the promised economic or social benefits and exacted a heavy environmental toll.

The Beijing–Guangzhou High-Speed Railway, for example, was criticized for its high operating costs, low ridership, and environmental impacts, such as heavy energy consumption and land alteration. The Guangzhou–Shenzhen–Hong Kong Express Rail Link, plagued by cost overruns and delays, has unclear economic returns weighed against habitat disruption and resource use.

Beijing Daxing International Airport—constructed to alleviate congestion at Beijing Capital International Airport—is often questioned for its economic justification due to concerns over land use (displacing residents) and ecological impacts. 

The Three Gorges Dam, while aiding inland waterway transport, displaced millions, disrupted ecosystems, and heightened geological risks.

Whether Dalian’s new offshore airport becomes a triumph or a financial and environmental burden depends on several factors, such as economic feasibility, ecological sustainability, and possible military goals. Only time will reveal whether this massive endeavor will meet its lofty expectations or become part of China’s underutilized mega-projects.

Views expressed in this article are opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.