How Beijing’s islands of control are reshaping the South China Sea

A decade after Beijing rejected a ruling by The Hague's Permanent Court of Arbitration regarding its South China Sea claims, China has significantly reshaped the geopolitical landscape of the region. Rival nations continue to engage in strategic maneuvers for control, while China has intensified its efforts to solidify its presence on disputed islands.

On Tree Island, known as Zhaoshu in China and Dao Cay in Vietnam, a striking transformation is evident. What was once a contested outcrop now hosts a sprawling array of modern infrastructure. This includes gardens, two-story houses, and air-conditioned government offices dedicated to administering the island and its surrounding areas. The development signifies a clear assertion of Chinese sovereignty and administrative control.

Visitors to Tree Island are greeted by clean, well-paved roads and electric sightseeing buggies offering brief tours. The island's amenities extend to supermarkets, a helicopter pad, a wastewater treatment plant, power stations, and even a prison. An island guide noted that the island is "90 per cent covered in vegetation," highlighting a blend of natural landscape and extensive human-made facilities. Among the visitors were schoolchildren and a retired teacher, underscoring the island's dual role as a strategic outpost and a destination for tourism.

The development on Tree Island exemplifies China's strategy of establishing "islands of control" in the South China Sea. This approach involves building significant infrastructure and civilian presence to bolster its territorial claims, often in defiance of international law and the rulings of international bodies like the Permanent Court of Arbitration. The widening gap between international legal pronouncements and the geopolitical realities on the water underscores the ongoing tensions and complex territorial disputes in the region.

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The island is 90 per cent covered in vegetation.