China has built seven new military bases in South China Sea, US navy commander says

Beijing’s assertive territorial claims in disputed waterway is ‘coordinated, methodical and strategic’, Admiral Harry Harris says

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An airstrip, structures and buildings are seen in this file photo of China’s man-made Subi Reef in the Spratly Islands in the South China Sea. A US naval commander said Beijing has built seven military bases in the disputed waterway. Photo: AP

Published: 1:15pm, 15 Feb 2018Updated: 1:15pm, 15 Feb 2018

The commander of the United States Pacific Command on Wednesday warned of China’s growing military might, saying Beijing had unilaterally built seven new military bases in the South China Sea.

“China is attempting to assert de facto sovereignty over disputed maritime features by further militarising its man-made bases,” Admiral Harry Harris said in a congressional hearing.

Harris told the House Armed Services Committee that the new facilities included “aircraft hangers, barracks facilities, radar facilities, weapon emplacements [and] 10,000-foot runways”.

Admiral Harry Harris said China is attempting to assert de facto sovereignty over disputed maritime features by militarising its man-made bases. Photo: AFP

Beijing has overlapping territorial claims with Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, Vietnam and Taiwan in the South China Sea, a strategic waterway through which more than a third of all global trade passes.

Harris said he saw Beijing’s assertive territorial claims in the East and South China seas as “coordinated, methodical and strategic, using their military and economic power to erode the free and open international order”.