UpdateChina defends reclaiming Mischief Reef land after photos expose it building artificial islands
The Philippines - one of the most vocal of China's neighbours in defending its competing territorial claim - reacted strongly, calling for the Asian giant to "dismantle" the reclaimed land.
Beijing reaffirmed its right to build on disputed islands in the South China Sea yesterday after satellite imagery emerged of construction operations turning tropical reefs into concrete artificial islands.
The Philippines - one of the most vocal of China's neighbours in defending its competing territorial claim - reacted strongly, calling for the Asian giant to "dismantle" the reclaimed land.
"They have to dismantle it," said Peter Paul Galvez, spokesman for the Philippines defence department. "It is a concern not only of our country and region but of the whole international community."
A series of satellite images posted on the website of the Centre for Strategic and International Studies show a flotilla of Chinese vessels dredging sand onto Mischief Reef and the resulting land spreading in size.
Before-and-after images of other outcrops in the Spratly Islands record runways appearing from jungle, smooth-sided solid masses where coral once lay, and man-made harbours replacing natural reefs.