China
says about to finish some land reclamation in South China Sea
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[June 16, 2015]
By Sui-Lee Wee
BEIJING (Reuters) - 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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
(Additional reporting by Ben Blanchard; Writing by Dean Yates;
Editing by Simon Cameron-Moore)
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