Pentagon Report: China Building Up Its Military Presence In The South China Sea

Photo taken on April 5, 2016 shows the lighthouse on Zhubi Reef of Nansha Islands in the South China Sea, south China. (Xinhua file photo)

Reuters: U.S. sees China boosting military presence after island-building spree

China is expected to add substantial military infrastructure, including surveillance systems, to artificial islands in the South China Sea this year, giving it long-term "civil-military bases" in the contested waters, the Pentagon said on Friday.

In its annual report to Congress on China's military activities in 2015, the U.S. Defense Department estimated that China's reclamation work had added more than 3,200 acres (1,300 hectares) of land on seven features it occupied in the Spratly Islands in the space of two years.

It said China had completed its major reclamation efforts in October, switching focus to infrastructure development, including three 9,800 foot-long (3,000 meter) airstrips that can accommodate advanced fighter jets.

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Update #1: China to beef up military infrastructure on disputed isles: Pentagon (Straits Times)
Update #2: Photos reveal growth of Chinese military bases in South China Sea (CNN)
Update #3: The Pentagon's 2016 China Military Report: What You Need to Know (National Interest)

WNU editor: The Chinese are not impressed .... China says US report hypes up its so-called military threat (AP).