Defense official: China grabs 50 percent more land through man-made islands

Beijing has asserted its right to build within its own territory, and pointed out that the United States is acting aggressively by hosting multiple military exercises in the South China Sea, even though it has no territorial claim in the region.

“China stands ready to open these facilities to other countries upon completion”, Zhu Haiquan, a spokesman for the Chinese embassy in Washington, said in response to the report.

“It’s not clear to us that they have stopped or if they are finishing up”, said David Shear, the assistant secretary of defense for Asian and Pacific security affairs.

Reuters earlier reported on China’s boosted activities in the Spratly Islands.

The Pentagon report fails to criticize, however, the land reclamation projects launched by other nations in the region.

“Although preparation for a potential Taiwan conflict remains the primary driver of Chinese investment, China is also placing emphasis on preparing for contingencies in the East and South China Sea”, it said.

He told reporters Friday at the Pentagon that the U.S. will continue to watch that situation very closely and engage with the Chinese as the U.S. has in the recent past on this subject.

A Pentagon spokesperson, cited by the Journal, called on the Beijing government to clarify its position: “We encourage China to clarify whether this statement applies to all Chinese outposts in the Sprats and Parcels [other disputed islands], and whether China is permanently committing to stop further reclamation activities”.

China claims most of the South China Sea, through which $5 trillion in ship-borne trade passes every year.

A report earlier this year described how China has “excavated deep channels and built new berthing areas to allow access for larger ships to the outposts”.

Meanwhile, China is ramping up patrols of the area, taking “small, incremental steps” in the disputed areas that avoid military conflict, but work to “increase its effective control” over the islands, the report said.

“By undertaking these actions, China is unilaterally altering the physical status quo in the region, thereby complicating diplomatic initiatives that could lower tensions”, the report warned.

The report also fails to mention the fact that Beijing has repeatedly stated the islands will be used primarily for humanitarian purposes. China has denied any such involvement.

Concerns linger that, if left unchecked, China’s claims to the islands could destabilize one of the world’s busiest commercial shipping routes.

“The United States will continue to fly, sail and operate wherever worldwide law permits”, Mr. Carter said.