China’s land reclamation at South China Sea at final phase
Beijing
China is set to finish part of its controversial building program on the disputed Spratly islands in the South China Sea, the foreign ministry said in a surprise announcement on Tuesday.
The ministry says they are for defence, but also maritime search and rescue, disaster relief and research.
China claims most of the South China Sea.
Last year, China increased its land reclamation activity prompting the US in May to call for an "immediate and lasting halt" to land reclamation in disputed areas of the South China Sea.
'Fulfil relevant functions'
In the statement on Tuesday, China did not give a timeframe or identify which of the seven reefs undergoing land reclamation would be finished soon.
"China will complete its reclamation project soon as part of its South China Sea construction in parts of the Nansha islands," the foreign ministry said using the Chinese name for the Spratlys.
Once the land reclamation is complete, building would begin on facilities that can "fulfil the relevant functions", the statement said.
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