China has new communications facilities at a military base it built over Kagitingan (Fiery Cross) Reef, indicating its intention to use the fortified feature for its forward signal and surveillance operations in the South China Sea, the Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative (AMTI) said Friday. Kagitingan Reef is now a fortified island fortress with a 3,000-meter-long runway capable of accommodating bombers and other large aircraft. In its latest brief, AMTI of the Washington-based Center for Strategic and International Studies said that while the Chinese military presence on Kagitingan is less formidable than in other fortified features like Zamora (Subi) and Panganiban (Mischief) Reefs, the base on Kagitingan has advance monitoring and communication facilities.

Laude, J., & Mateo, J. (2018, February 18). China building surveillance facilities on Kagitingan reef. The Philippine Star, pp. 1, 13.