China covers 4G at Cross Reef

The mouthpiece of the General Political Department of the Chinese military said that state-owned telecommunications company China Mobile has covered 4G mobile network on the Cross Reef in the Spratly Islands, which belongs to Vietnam.

China's military infrastructure on the Fiery Cross Reef. Photo: Xinhua.

China will continue to build 4G base stations on other reefs and islands in the Spratly Islands in the first half of 2015, Want China Times reported today, citing an article in PLA Daily, the mouthpiece of the General Political Department of the People's Liberation Army (PLA). A base station is estimated to be able to download data at a speed of 1 MB/second when operational. Since February 2013, China has provided 3G coverage in Vietnam's Spratly Islands.

According to the article, 4G coverage allows soldiers at the Cross Reef to chat with their families via mobile phones via video calls, with clear and uninterrupted images and sounds.

However, China will impose strict restrictions on the time and location of 4G network use to prevent sensitive information from being leaked.

Fiery Cross Reef, part of Vietnam’s Spratly Islands, has been illegally occupied by China since 1988. Beijing has since built a weather station and begun land reclamation on the reef and several surrounding islands. Satellite imagery last year showed an airstrip and port on Fiery Cross Reef. The area has increased more than 11 times, turning it into the largest “island” in the Spratlys.

Vietnam has repeatedly affirmed its indisputable sovereignty over the Truong Sa and Hoang Sa archipelagos. Therefore, all activities of the parties in these areas without Vietnam’s permission are illegal and worthless.

According to VNE