China ramped up satellite monitoring of its claimed territorial waters in the South and East China Seas in 2022, according to the latest blue book by the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC) — the main contractor to China’s space programme.
Monitoring Disputed Territories
The CASC said that Beijing improved its remote sensing of the Diaoyu Islands in the East China Sea, as well as the South China Sea’s (SCS) Scarborough Shoal, Macclesfield Bank, the Paracels and Spratly Islands, and surrounding waters.
The book, which was published on Wednesday, stated that China “has formed the capability of remotely sensing all the seas and islands under administration.”
It added that the enhanced monitoring programme provides important data for the administration and management of the waters and islands that China claims as its own, as well as “islands of special purposes,” which China uses as maritime military bases.
Other noted launches/projects: Environmental Surveyor 2-05, Fengyun-3 F+G, new Haiyang sats, Zhongxing 26, "New Generation Commercial Remote Sensing Satellite System" and Gaojing sats, Hongtu-1 SAR sats, Jilin-1 EO sats, Geely autonomous driving constellation, etc... (2/4)
— Andrew Jones (@AJ_FI) January 19, 2023
Reportedly, the increase in the number of satellites allows Beijing “a continuous high-frequency observation capability with global coverage,” which it uses in sea and island management and the investigation and supervision of marine natural resources.
Moreover, the satellites help “observe ocean dynamics, its changing colours, and activities, to monitor and forecast the marine environment and ecology,” the blue book said.
The SCS Dispute
Based on “historical claims,” China asserts that large parts of the SCS are part of its own territory. Several other maritime neighbours contest China’s claims in the region; however, this has not stopped the Asian superpower from exercising its dominance in the region.
China and the Philippines have been at loggerheads, particularly over the ownership of the uninhabited Spratly Islands and the Scarborough Shoal, which are strategically important to both countries. The areas have potentially significant, and largely unexplored, reserves of oil and natural gas. In addition, the region is productive for fishing and among the busiest areas of commercial shipping traffic.
Read More: China, Philippines Agree to Settle South China Sea Dispute Via Diplomatic Channel
Similarly, another uninhabited island chain, known as Senkakus in Japan and the Diaoyus in China, is located about 1,931 kilometres southwest of Tokyo and has been administered by Japan since 1972. However, China asserts that the islands are an “inherent part” of Chinese territory, saying that its claims to the isles date back hundreds of years.
Although Beijing’s territorial claims have been dismissed as baseless, and even illegal, by several states and international bodies, it has continued building artificial islands in the region.