China’s island ambition
Disputed islands in South China Sea.
China explains why it’s building islands in the South China Sea
China on Thursday sketched out detailed plans for the islands it is creating in the disputed South China Sea, saying they would be used for military defence as well as to provide civilian services that would benefit other countries.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying told a news briefing that the reclamation and building work in the Spratly archipelago of the South China Sea was needed partly because of the risk of typhoons in an area with a lot of shipping that is far from land.
“We are building shelters, aids for navigation, search and rescue as well as marine meteorological forecasting services, fishery services and other administrative services so as to provide the necessary services to China, neighbouring countries and individual vessels sailing the South China Sea,” Hua said.
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Source: businessinsider.com.au
