CONSTRUCTION ACTIVITY SWALLOW REEF, SPRATLY ISLANDS

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: NGA Records (Formerly NIMA)
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP91T00712R000200510001-5
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 4
• Document Creation Date: December 28, 2016
• Document Release Date: March 15, 2011
• Sequence Number: 1
• Publication Date: December 12, 1983
• Content Type: REPORT

Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/03/15: CIA-RDP91T00712R000200510001-5
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(c) NATIONAL PHOTOGRAPHIC INTERPRETATION CENTER
CONSTRUCTION ACTIVITY
SWALLOW REEF, SPRATLY ISLANDS
1. SIGNIFICANCE: THIS ACTIVITY COULD BE RELATED TO CONSTRUCTION
OF A PERMANENT MALAYSIAN MILITARY FACILITY. (SWN)
WATER SECTION OF THE LAGOON THAT HAS BEEN PARTIALLY ENCLOSED BY
CAISSON SECTIONS.. THIS BARGE HAS TWO LARGE QUONSET-TYPE
BUILDINGS/HANGARS AND A LATTICE TOWER (POSSIBLY FOR SHIP AND/OR
AIRCRAFT TRAFFIC CONTROL). SMALL PROBABLE ANTENNAS ARE MOUNTED
ON THE TOP OF THE TOWER. EIGHTEEN FOOTINGS/PILINGS HAVE BEEN
INSTALLED IN THE CAISSON ENCLOSURE, AND TWO BULLDOZERS ARE
GRADING THE AREA. THE OTHER TWO BARGES ARE MOORED OUTSIDE THE
LAGOON NEXT TO A NARROW STRIP OF DREDGED SPOIL. A LARGE MOBILE
CRANE, A TRUCK, ADDITIONAL FOOTINGS/PILINGS, AND CONSTRUCTION
MATERIALS ARE ON THE DREDGE STRIP. TWO TUGS AND A SMALL DREDGE
BARGE ARE IN THE LAGOON. (SWN)
THE REEF LAGOON ONE DREDGE AND THREE
BARGES ARE PRESENT. ONE OF THE BARGES IS BEACHED IN A SHALLOW
MALAYSIAN OCCUPANCY OF SWALLOW REEF WAS CONFIRMED
WHEN A MALAYSIAN FLAG/EMBLEM WAS SEEN ON THE ROOF OF A SMALL
BUILDING AT THE EAST END OF THE REEF. THE DREDGING, FIRST SEEN
IN JUNE 1983, APPEARS TO HAVE BEEN COMPLETED. THE PURPOSE OF
THIS CONSTRUCTION IS UNDETERMINED AT THIS TIME. HOWEVER, THE
MALAYSIAN CLAIM TO THE SPRATLY ISLANDS IS DISPUTED BY SEVERAL
OTHER NATIONS IN THE AREA, AND THE INSTALLATION OF A MILITARY
BASE, POSSIBLY WITH HELICOPTER SUPPORT FACILITIES, ON
SWALLOW REEF WOULD ENHANCE MALAYSIA'S ABILITY TO MONITOR
ACTIVITY IN THE SPRATLYS. (SWN)
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Z-15933/83
NPIC/PEG (12/83)
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THE SPRATLY ISLANDS ARE APPROXIMATELY 200 NM NORTHWEST OF
MALAYSIA IN THE SOUTH CHINA SEA. IN ADDITION TO MALAYSIA;
CHINA, VIETNAM, THE PHILIPPINES, AND TAIWAN HAVE LAID CLAIMS TO
ONE OR MORE ISLANDS/REEFS IN THE SPRATLY CHAIN. (SWN)
COORDINATES 07-22-20N 113-49-30E
These notes have been prepared for briefing purposes only and should not be used for detailed ana-
lytical work. Their use should be restricted to the particular briefing board(s) they were prepared for
and must be considered valid only for the reporting period as indicated by the date of issue.
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Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/03/15: CIA-RDP91T00712R000200510001-5