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China is reportedly constructing an airstrip on Triton Island, a disputed territory in the South China Sea. The island, which is also claimed by Taiwan and Vietnam, is currently undergoing construction that began a few weeks ago, according to satellite images captured by Planet Labs. The airstrip is approximately 2,000 feet long, making it suitable for turboprop aircraft and drones, but not fighter jets or bombers.

The purpose of the airstrip is still uncertain, as it is still in its early stages of development. However, it is believed to be part of China’s ongoing militarization of the region. This mirrors China’s construction of seven artificial islands in the Spratly group, complete with airstrips, docks, and military systems. China gained control of the Paracels, where Triton Island is located, from Vietnam in a naval conflict in 1974.

In addition to the airstrip, satellite imagery also reveals a new work area and a cement plant that have been constructed within the past month. Prior to the construction, Triton Island housed an observation station, a small helipad, a harbor, and large Chinese flags.

The island is strategically located between Vietnam’s coast and China’s island province of Hainan. While Vietnam and Taiwan also lay claim to the Paracel group, China has considered the South China Sea region as its own since the 1970s. China has been assertively asserting its territorial claims by building island bases on coral atolls in the South China Sea. The United States Navy has conducted “freedom of navigation operations” near Chinese-held islands since 2016.

This latest development on Triton Island is another step in China’s efforts to consolidate its control over the South China Sea. The island’s construction adds to the growing list of militarized islands in the region, including Woody Island, which boasts a nearly 9,000-foot-long runway for naval and air force operations.

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