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China will soon complete some of its land reclamation on the Spratly
islands in the disputed South China Sea, the Foreign Ministry said on Tuesday,
indicating that Beijing is close to setting up new outposts in the maritime
heart of Southeast Asia.
The Foreign Ministry did not identify which of the seven reefs
undergoing reclamation would be finished soon. Ministry spokesman Lu Kang said
their statement was already "quite detailed".
China stepped up its creation of artificial islands last year, a move
that has alarmed several countries in Asia and drawn growing criticism from
Washington. There have been recent tensions between the Chinese navy and the
U.S. military around the Spratlys.
"Based on our understanding from the relevant authorities, in
accordance with the set work plan, the land reclamation project for China's
construction on some islands and reefs on the Nansha islands will be completed
soon," the Foreign Ministry said in a statement, using the Chinese name
for the Spratlys.
It gave no timeframe.
China claims most of the South China Sea, through which $5 trillion in
ship-borne trade passes every year. The Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Taiwan
and Brunei also have overlapping claims.
U.S. officials have said the pace and scale of China's reclamation work
far outstripped that of other claimants. One official has said that before
January 2014, China had only reclaimed about five hectares, but this had soared
to 2,000 acres (800 hectares), expanding the acreage on outposts it occupies by
over four hundred times.
Recent satellite images show a hive of building and other work on the
new islands.
Military facilities for example are under construction on Fiery Cross
Reef, including a 3,000-metre (10,000-foot) runway and airborne early warning
radars, which could be operational by the year-end, according to one U.S.
commander.
The Foreign Ministry reiterated China's stance that the islands would
help with maritime search and rescue, disaster relief, environmental protection
and offer navigational assistance as well as have undefined military purposes.
After reclamation was complete, China would build facilities to
"fulfill the relevant functions", it said.
The construction was within the scope of China's sovereignty, the
Foreign Ministry said, adding it would not affect freedom of navigation and
overflight in the South China Sea.
U.S. officials are concerned that China may declare an exclusion zone
in the area that could limit the movement of ships and aircraft. - Reuters
