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.