China will soon complete some of its land reclamation on the Spratly Islands in the disputed South China Sea, the foreign ministry said on Tuesday, indicating that Beijing is close to setting up new outposts in the maritime heart of Southeast Asia. The foreign ministry did not identify which of the seven reefs undergoing reclamation would be finished soon. Ministry spokesman Lu Kang said their statement was already "quite detailed." China stepped up its creation of artificial islands last year, a move that has alarmed several countries in Asia and drawn growing criticism from Washington.

China to complete Spratly Islands reclamation soon, its foreign ministry says. (2015, June 17). BusinessWorld, p. 12/SI.