China will complete land reclamation projects on its disputed South China Sea territorial claims as planned within "upcoming days," the Foreign Ministry said yesterday. However, in a sign that developments were far from over, a statement posted to the ministry's website said China would follow up by building infrastructure to carry out functions ranging from maritime search and rescue to environmental conservation and scientific research. " It is learned from relevant Chinese competent department that, as planned, the land reclamation project of China's construction on some stationed islands and reefs of the Nansha Island will be completed in the upcoming days," the statement said, using the Chinese term for the Spratly islands, which lie at the heart of the South China Sea territorial dispute.

Lee-Brago, P. (2015, June 17). China to end reclamation, start building structures. The Philippine Star, p. 14.