Activities by the People's Republic of China (PRC) in the mid-2010s have created a large artificial island on the atoll including an approximately 2,700-metre (8,900 ft) runway and associated airfield.

Mischief Reef was also ruled as a low tide elevation (LTE) meaning it cannot possess a territorial 12 mile-boundary regardless of the reclamation and a military base installation by the PRC.

[13] The tribunal concluded that Mischief Reef forms part of the exclusive economic zone and continental shelf of the Philippines.

[16] By January 2016, work was well advanced on developing a military base with a large harbour and a 2,644 metres (8,675 ft) runway, with the reclaimed land covering 558 hectares (1,380 acres).

[17] A civilian test flight to the runway was conducted by a China Southern Airlines passenger jet on 13 July 2016.

[18] In late 2016, photographs emerged which suggested that Mischief Reef was armed with anti-aircraft weapons and a CIWS missile-defence system.

[19] In early 2021, satellite imagery and third party geointelligence analysis confirmed a radome and possible antenna mount, among other construction preparations underway on Mischief Reef.

Once completed, it would be transported to Mischief Reef and then fixed on the atoll through pre-embedded pile foundations to form a cement platform.

The platform is planned to have hundreds of rooms with toilets, air conditioners and special bathrooms for villagers to live in.