China Continues To Build Structures On Its Artificial Islands In The South China Sea

Wall Street Journal: As China Courts Neighbors, New Images Show More Building in Disputed Waters

Beijing has constructed additional infrastructure in the South China Sea, says Washington think tank.

China has built more infrastructure on artificial islands in the disputed South China Sea in the past year, including underground tunnels and radar installations, even as it has sought to repair relations with other claimants, according to an analysis of fresh satellite images.

Beijing’s construction of the seven islands in the Spratlys archipelago since 2014 has raised deep concern in the U.S. and much of Asia that China could use them to try to enforce its claims to almost all the South China Sea, one of the world’s busiest shipping routes.

China completed land reclamation in the Spratlys in early 2016, but continued such work to expand outposts in the Paracel Islands until mid-2017, according to the Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative, or AMTI, which released the images.

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Update #1: While focus is on North Korea, China continues South China Sea buildup: think tank (Reuters)
Update #2: As tensions ease, China keeps building on disputed islands (National Post/AP)

WNU Editor: Here is an easy prediction .... The Chinese are going to continue to build-up their infrastructure on these islands, and may even build a few more islands even though they have promised neighboring countries that they would not. The Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative report is here .... A Constructive Year for Chinese Base Building.