BEIJING: China is conducting “large scale” land reclamation and construction on a reef in the disputed South China Sea, state-backed media reported on Thursday, in an unusual acknowledgement of its controversial work in the region.
Citing satellite images, the semi-official China Military Online said China had officially begun reclamation work on Cuarteron Reef, which is also claimed by the Philippines.
Chinese troops also conducted drills on the reef this month, the online publication said.
China claims most of the potentially energy-rich South China Sea, through which $5 trillion in ship-borne trade passes every year. The Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan also have overlapping claims.
Satellite photographs have shown that Chinese reclamation work is advanced on six reefs in outh China Sea,.
Workers are building ports and fuel storage depots as well as possibly two airstrips as China works to project its military power into Southeast Asia.