In May 2019, Sansha City signed a \u201cphysical model experiment\u201d contract with the Ministry of Transport\u2019s Tianjin Research Institute for Water Transport Engineering. The bidding paperwork for this contract suggests that the institute was responsible for modeling shoreline erosion on Woody Island in support of the city\u2019s renovation and restoration work.<\/p>\n
The document specifies that the successful bidder would simulate waves breaking on Woody Island\u2019s fringing reef and transmission losses under extreme storm surge conditions, among other experiments.<\/p>\n
![\"zach2.jpg\"](\"https:\/\/www.rfa.org\/english\/news\/china\/southchinasea-woody-01212021155023.html\/zach2.jpg\/@@images\/fbbd2f84-8012-4ca7-9192-5852d5d2cc5c.jpeg\" "\\"zach2.jpg\\"")
This image from Dec. 14, 2021, illustrates land reclamation and other construction conducted on the northern coast of Woody Island in recent months.<\/p>\n
The investment in protecting Woody Island from the elements reflects its strategic importance to China. Its infrastructure supports PLA Navy, China Coast Guard (CCG), and maritime militia operations. The CCG and China\u2019s maritime militia frequently harass the fishing boats and other vessels of other South China Sea claimants. The Paracels, where it is located, are disputed between China, Vietnam, and Taiwan.<\/p>\n
In June 2020, RFA reported<\/a><\/span> that China had resumed dredging at Woody Island and had started building reinforcements on the island\u2019s northern coast. New satellite imagery reveals that China continued this work into late 2020, including additional land reclamation to expand the island\u2019s coastline. China appears to have reinforced most of the northern coast of the island, dug a 20-meter by 30-meter chunk out of the island\u2019s fringing reef toward the northwest, and since June has filled in around 30,000 square meters of new land toward the northeast.<\/p>\n These changes are likely the product of Sansha City\u2019s \u201ccoastal renovation and restoration project.\u201d<\/p>\n The city\u2019s restoration work on Woody Island\u2019s coast appears poised to continue in 2021. Records show that Sansha City signed another planning contract for phase one of the project with CCCC Water Transport Planning and Design Institute Company Limited in August 2020. Moreover, that the city initiated a \u201cphase one\u201d suggests that the city could launch subsequent phases of work.<\/p>\n Satellite imagery shows continuing construction work on an area of newly reclaimed land on Woody Island\u2019s northern coast.<\/p>\n Sansha City\u2019s current efforts to fortify Woody Island\u2019s coast against erosion are part of a broader push to ensure the long-term viability of China\u2019s settlements in the South China Sea. For example, China has also planted trees<\/a><\/span> on small islets to prevent soil erosion. These efforts underscore China\u2019s intention to maintain a permanent presence on the contested islands and reefs of the South China Sea, despite growing criticism that its territorial and maritime claims are not supported by international law.<\/p>\n\n