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Chinese dredging vessels are purportedly seen in the waters around Mischief Reef in the disputed Spratly Islands in the South China Sea. Photo: Reuters

China reveals details on new facilities at Spratly Islands in disputed South China Sea

The Chinese government yesterday rolled out more details of the building work it is undertaking in the disputed South China Sea, listing lighthouses, communications stations and other facilities for civilian and emergency use.

Beijing stepped up its creation of artificial islands last year, alarming its Asian neighbours and drawing criticism from Washington.

A senior United States government official urged China on Tuesday to immediately stop building facilities in disputed areas, while welcoming its announcement that the work there would be completed soon.

"The stopping of the reclamation work is, that's welcome," a State Department official said, after Beijing announced earlier in the day that its reclamation activities around reefs in the Spratly Islands would be over "within days".

But the official criticised China for planning to use the artificial islands for military purposes, saying: "That's not helpful and not productive."

China's top planning agency, the National Development and Reform Commission, says the construction on the islands will help with maritime search and rescue, disaster relief, environmental protection and offer navigational assistance as well as fulfil undefined military purposes.

The commission said it had drawn up a plan for the use of civil facilities on the Spratlys, and that these facilities would help improve living conditions there and also fulfil China's international obligations on environmental monitoring, disaster relief and navigational safety.

Large lighthouses for navigation were included in the building plan, along with base stations for wireless navigation equipment, weather stations to monitor for tsunamis, scientific research stations, as well as equipment to tackle oil spills, it said.

Facilities will also be provided for the supply of search and rescue ships and places for fishing boats to seek shelter from storms, the commission said, although it did not mention what sort of harbours or docks would be built.

It did not give a timeframe for when the facilities were expected to be completed.

This article appeared in the South China Morning Post print edition as: Beijing reveals details on new Spratlys facilities
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