Naypyidaw, April 17 (NationPress) A crucial global trade route is gradually falling under Beijing's control as the United States is preoccupied with the escalating situation in the Middle East, according to a recent report. Antelope Reef in the South China Sea is being developed into a fortified artificial base by China, illustrating the consequences of diminished vigilance, as noted by Linn Maung in Mekong News.

The report indicated that, amid the ongoing turmoil in the Middle East, the United States has repositioned its Carrier Strike Group, resulting in a nearly 30% reduction in reconnaissance activities over the South China Sea since late 2025. This shift has opened a window for China to assert its dominance in the region, accelerating the dredging of corals for land reclamation at Antelope Reef.

According to Maung, the USS Theodore Roosevelt now stands as the only deterrent Carrier Strike Group in the extensive area, as both the USS Abraham Lincoln and USS George Washington have been redirected to patrol waters in the Middle East.

"Satellite images from the European Space Agency and commercial sources highlight the magnitude of China's ambitions. What used to be a small outpost is transforming into an expansive landmass of over six square kilometers. Engineers have squared off the reef's edges, laying foundations for a runway that exceeds 2,700 meters—adequate for accommodating fighter jets, surveillance planes, and heavy bombers. This expansion is not an isolated incident; it reflects similar projects at Mischief Reef, Fiery Cross Reef, and Subi Reef, where China has constructed hardened airstrips, radar systems, and missile installations," the Mekong News report elaborated.

Furthermore, the transformation of Antelope Reef signifies Beijing's ambition to dominate the western Paracels, a critical passage for one-third of the world’s maritime trade.

Despite the 2016 Hague tribunal ruling that nullified China's 'nine-dash line' claims, the report noted that these developments demonstrate China's continued efforts to reinforce its territorial claims.

"This is a calculated move to appropriate territory, intimidate neighboring nations, and alter maritime law. The lack of sustained patrols and carrier presence by Washington indirectly facilitates this expansion. China's actions represent a gradual annexation of maritime territories," Maung remarked.

According to the report, China's maneuvers represent a creeping annexation of maritime zones.

"Antelope Reef exemplifies a larger trend: seize, construct, fortify, and normalize. Each artificial island contributes to Beijing's wall of control, undermining the sovereignty of neighboring states and challenging international standards," it concluded.