China defends land reclamation in South China Sea

Foreign Ministry said it is "mainly aimed at improving the working and living conditions of the Chinese staff working there"

2 min readBeijingNov 24, 2014 04:03 PM IST

In this Monday, Feb. 8, 1999 aerial photo, a Chinese flag flies from one of the two newly-finished concrete structures on the Mischief Reef off the disputed Spratlys group of islands in the South China Sea in this aerial photo. China’s ties with both Vietnam and the Philippines have been rocked by dueling territorial claims over islands in the South China Sea. (Source: AP)

China defended its land reclamation in the disputed Spratly Islands in the South China Sea on Monday, saying the work is for public service use, although a London-based security group says the new island could host a military airfield to intimidate neighbors.

Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said the construction on some reefs in the archipelago is “mainly aimed at improving the working and living conditions of the Chinese staff working there so that they can better perform international obligations in terms of search, rescue and other public services.”

In a recent report, IHS Jane’s said satellite images taken in August and November showed that Chinese dredgers had created a land mass almost the entire length of Fiery Cross Reef, which was previously under water. The security group said it is the largest construction project China has undertaken in the island chain.

IHS Jane’s said the new island — at least 3,000 meters (9,840 feet) long — could be China’s first military airstrip in the Spratly Islands and might be aimed at helping Beijing impose its sovereignty claims over neighboring countries that also claim the territory.

“Given its massive military advantage over the other claimants in terms of quantity and quality of materiel, this facility appears purpose-built to coerce other claimants into relinquishing their claims and possessions, or at least provide China with a much stronger negotiating position if talks over the dispute were ever held,” the report said.

Hua told a regular news briefing on Monday that such remarks were “irresponsible” and that China has “indisputable sovereignty” over the Spratly Islands, which are also claimed by Taiwan, Malaysia, the Philippines, Vietnam and Brunei.

She said China has insisted that maritime disputes be resolved peacefully and through negotiations.

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