Fiery Cross Reef

Dr. Collingwood, in his "Rambles of a Naturalist," describes a scene of marvellous submarine beauty in the China seas. He speaks of Fiery Cross Reef on a day when the sea was so calm that the ship’s anchor could be distinctly seen sixty or seventy feet from the surface. Rowing over a two-fathom patch, he allowed the boat to drift slowly, and gazed on the sea treasures beneath him.

1871, William Jones, “Submarine Scenery”, in The Broad, Broad Ocean and Some of Its Inhabitants, London: Frederick Warne and Co., page 182

Fiery Cross Reef is about 14 nmi long. U.S. Defense Mapping Agency charts indicate that it is submerged at high tide in its natural state,⁴⁷ but other sources claim it has one rock at its southwest end that is about the size of a table and is 0.6 meter above water at high tide.⁴⁸ This reef has been converted into an artificial island and now contains a supply base, a helipad, a 300-meter pier capable of handling 4,000-ton ships, and an ultra-modern oceanographic observation station that can receive and transmit messages through satellites and provide vital meteorological data to passing aircraft and ships.⁴⁹

1997, Mark J. Valencia, Jon M. Van Dyke, Noel A. Ludwig, “Analyzing the South China Sea Claims Under International Law”, in Sharing the Resources of the South China Sea, Honolulu: University of Hawaiʻi Press, published 1999, →ISBN, →LCCN, →OCLC, International Law, page 22

On Fiery Cross Reef, a complex of buildings with Chinese eaves was arrayed at the center of the reclaimed island, including an exhibition-style hall with an undulating roof. It looked like a typical newly built town in interior China — except for the radar domes that protruded like giant golf balls across the reef. A military-grade runway ran the length of the island, and army vehicles trundled across the tarmac. Antenna farms bristled.

2018 September 20, Hannah Beech, “China’s Sea Control Is a Done Deal, ‘Short of War With the U.S.’”, in The New York Times (Asia Pacific section), New York, N.Y.: The New York Times Company, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 20 Sep 2018

Sansha City has two districts, both created in April 2020.²¹² The Xisha District (西沙区) People’s Government is based on Woody Island and has jurisdiction over the Paracel Islands and Zhongsha Islands.²¹³ The Nansha District (南沙区) People’s Government is based on Fiery Cross Reef and has jurisdiction over the Spratly Islands.²¹⁴ Each district assumably has a district party committee as well.²¹⁵ Though publicly available information on these new districts is scarce, the establishment of Xisha District and Nansha District will likely improve Sansha’s administrative capacity and expand localized policymaking.²¹⁶

中国海事研究所

2021 January, Zoe Haver, “China Maritime Report No. 12: Sansha City in China's South China Sea Strategy: Building a System of Administrative Control”, in CMSI China Maritime Reports, number 12, China Maritime Studies Institute [中国海事研究所], →OCLC, archived from the original on 05 Jan 2021, page 29