Fiery Cross Reef, Yongshu Jiao, China, Spratly Islands
Updated August 26, 2024 using Copernicus Browser, Sentinel-2 satellite data.
Fiery Cross Reef is an advanced military island developed, maintained and operated by the People's Republic of China (PRC). It is located near the center of the Spratly islands from north to south, and lies to the western edge. Fiery Cross Reef is located 287 miles SE of Phan Rang-Thap Cham on mainland Vietnam. It appears to be a fairly deep coral atoll, with a diameter of 16.1 miles stretching from southwest (where the main island is) to the northeast (past two land reclamation sites).
We consider this in the context of Subi Reef and Mischief Reef, as they make an equilateral triangle of military protection.
Fiery Cross Reef is an advanced military island developed, maintained and operated by the People's Republic of China (PRC). It is located near the center of the Spratly islands from north to south, and lies to the western edge. Fiery Cross Reef is located 287 miles SE of Phan Rang-Thap Cham on mainland Vietnam. It appears to be a fairly deep coral atoll, with a diameter of 16.1 miles stretching from southwest (where the main island is) to the northeast (past two land reclamation sites).
We consider this in the context of Subi Reef and Mischief Reef, as they make an equilateral triangle of military protection.
Using most recent satellite imagery from Copernicus Browser, Sentinel-2, L1C, True Color, Satellite Imagery 8/18/2024, Shows the island is fully developed within its shape. We see athletic fields, the enclosed bay, and the support buildings around a long airport (Sansha Yongshu Airport), and the island length is 3.91 km from the central navigation light to the SW tip.
Interesting to note that there has been no visible reclamation work, nor addition of buildings and major infrastructure since the satellite imagery in 2022. The island is at the western edge of a fairly large atoll. The current focus must be on operations and readiness, not on expansion.
Interesting to note that there has been no visible reclamation work, nor addition of buildings and major infrastructure since the satellite imagery in 2022. The island is at the western edge of a fairly large atoll. The current focus must be on operations and readiness, not on expansion.
Copernicus Browser, Sentinel-2 L1C, True Color, dated 8/18/2024.
Fiery Cross Island, a.k.a. Yongshu Jiao, Chinese, China Northwest Investigator Reef, Philippines Kagitingan Reef, and Vietnam Đá Chữ Thập, is a military island occupied and controlled by China. It is administered out of Sansha, Hainan, China, according to Wikipedia. We see a map notation of Yongshu Community and Yongshu Port (Maxar Xpress).
This is a fully militarized PRC island, according to U.S. Admiral John C. Aquilino, in a Reuters news interview given during a tour of the Spratly Islands in a U.S. Navy reconnaissance aircraft that flew near these features, and was published March 21, 2022. According to U.S. Admiral Aquilino, Subi Reef, Mischief Reef and Fiery Cross are all three fully militarized islands occupied by the PRC.
This island was occupied by the PRC in 1988 after an armed conflict with Vietnam (the South Johnson Reef skirmish). It has been reclaimed extensively. According to the Center for Strategic and International Studies, this is a major Chinese PRC military base with missle launch capabilities, combat aircraft hangars, and significant airbase capabilities.
Fiery Cross Island, Google Earth 5/16/2022, This is the complete view of the island.
Fiery Cross West island. Location: 9°33'03"N 112°53'07"E. Current location reading: 9°32'48"N 112°53'07"E. Google Earth satellite imagery is from 5/16/2022. The island is 2.4 miles in diameter. The runway is 1.83 miles long, from edge to edge.
We notice the island has an impressive runway, and numerous aircraft hangers. We see a running track, and what looks like fuel storage. Let’s look deeper. Elegant buildings that are multi-story (based on the shadows they cast), and significant infrastructure to defend their island, and to store aircraft in dozens of hangers. We see either a significant number of radomes or fuel storage tanks. We see at least five defensive AA cannon pointed away from the island, and some with a three-gun battery, a multi-building hospital, track and field facilities, an olympic sized swimming pool with lap lanes, and twelve missile launch sites.
We focus on the fitness facilities, because that usually reflects the housing and caring for troops. On this island we see numerous housing units around a significant athletic facility. We see a five-lane swimming pool, two tennis courts, a full running track, and four basketball courts. We see a parade ground with new trees, and what look like administrative buildings. We see many undeveloped tracts of land and some significant buildings on the island. There is more room to grow the garrison.
Around the runway we see many aircraft hangers and other large buildings, such as the one below.
We notice the island has an impressive runway, and numerous aircraft hangers. We see a running track, and what looks like fuel storage. Let’s look deeper. Elegant buildings that are multi-story (based on the shadows they cast), and significant infrastructure to defend their island, and to store aircraft in dozens of hangers. We see either a significant number of radomes or fuel storage tanks. We see at least five defensive AA cannon pointed away from the island, and some with a three-gun battery, a multi-building hospital, track and field facilities, an olympic sized swimming pool with lap lanes, and twelve missile launch sites.
We focus on the fitness facilities, because that usually reflects the housing and caring for troops. On this island we see numerous housing units around a significant athletic facility. We see a five-lane swimming pool, two tennis courts, a full running track, and four basketball courts. We see a parade ground with new trees, and what look like administrative buildings. We see many undeveloped tracts of land and some significant buildings on the island. There is more room to grow the garrison.
Around the runway we see many aircraft hangers and other large buildings, such as the one below.
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In a thank you to other military writers, we now recognize a dozen missile launch sites at the very southwest corner of the island, west of the end of the runway. Unlike on other PRC South China Seas islands, these are not blue and pretty, they are a hodge-podge of colors including red, white, black and brown, and almost look like pallets being stacked. These slide open, exposing the missile system which can then fire.
These will pack quite an offensive punch at a distance. Also note the anti-aircraft cannon to the east, for that 'close shave' protection.
These will pack quite an offensive punch at a distance. Also note the anti-aircraft cannon to the east, for that 'close shave' protection.
Supporting our missile defense analysis, U.S. Senator David Purdue, on a Freedom of Navigation Operation that flew directly over Fiery Cross Reef, he saw "missile silos open as we flew directly overhead at 1,000 feet."
In summary, this is a well developed and mature island with a significant airport, hanger facilities, barracks, hospital facilities, and island defenses. There is also a very large protected bay and a significant number of berths for ships to tie up, and a heavy lift crane and port facility.
Here are two, very small land reclamation sites. These are small sand cays, pictured below. The first is at location: 9°39'41"N 113°01’06”E, satellite image dated 3/17/2019, and the seconds is at location .9°38'59"N 112°58'36"E, in a newer satellite image, dated 5/16/2022. We may see more development coming to support Fiery Cross Reef Island.
3/17/2019 Fiery Cross Land Reclamation, Google Earth.
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5/16/2022, Fiery Cross Reef Land Reclamation, Google Earth.
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The China-occupied Fiery Cross Reef in the South China Sea. Image: People's Daily. Source: Asia Times, May 2024. Photo from 2022.
Area
Name 1
Nearest Land
Distance from Land (miles)
Location (latitude & longitude)
Diameter (miles)
Date of Satellite Imagery
Airport Present?
Helipad Present?
Port / Dock Facility Present?
Buildings Present?
Defensive Infrastructure Present?
Athletic Facilities Present?
Hospital Present?
Sand Only Island?
Dredging Infrastructure Only?
Spratly Islands
Fiery Cross (3 islands)
Philippines and Vietnam
294 and 295
9°33'03"N 112°53'07"E
2.4
Undated
Yes
No
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes (2)
No
Name 1
Nearest Land
Distance from Land (miles)
Location (latitude & longitude)
Diameter (miles)
Date of Satellite Imagery
Airport Present?
Helipad Present?
Port / Dock Facility Present?
Buildings Present?
Defensive Infrastructure Present?
Athletic Facilities Present?
Hospital Present?
Sand Only Island?
Dredging Infrastructure Only?
Spratly Islands
Fiery Cross (3 islands)
Philippines and Vietnam
294 and 295
9°33'03"N 112°53'07"E
2.4
Undated
Yes
No
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes (2)
No