US Admiral Says China Has Fully Militarized At Least Three Man-Made Islands In The South China Sea

U.S. Indo-Pacific commander Admiral John C. Aquilino (left) shared the revelation with two Associated Press journalists who joined him on board a P-8A Poseidon plane during the reconnaissance mission  

Daily Mail: US admiral says China fully militarized at least three of several islands it built in the disputed South China Sea 

* China has equipped at least three man-made islands in the South China Sea with military equipment such as missile arsenals, aircraft hangars and radar systems 

* A U.S. Navy reconnaissance mission revealed the militarization of Mischief Reef, Subi Reef and Fiery Cross in one of the world's most disputed regions 

* Chinese President Xi Jinping previously promised not to convert the islands into military bases 

* Beijing maintains its military profile is purely defensive, despite China's military now having the second-largest defense budget next to the U.S. 

China has fully militarized at least three of nearly a dozen manmade islands it built in the hotly contested South China Sea, despite Chinese President Xi Jinping´s previous promises not to convert the islands into military bases, a top U.S. military commander said on Sunday. 

U.S. Navy officials surveyed outposts in the South China Sea´s Spratly archipelago – one of the world's most disputed regions – and found that the islands of Mischief Reef, Subi Reef and Fiery Cross has been armed with anti-ship and anti-aircraft missile systems, laser and jamming equipment and fighter jets. 

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Update #1: AP Exclusive: US admiral says China fully militarized isles (AP)  

Update #2: Report: U.S. admiral says China has fully militarized three islands in South China Sea (Axios)  

WNU Editor: so much for Chinese President Xi's promise .... It’s Official: Xi Jinping Breaks His Non-Militarization Pledge in the Spratlys (The Diplomat).