China appears to have installed weapons, including anti-aircraft and anti-missile systems, on all seven of the artificial islands it has built in the South China Sea, a U.S. think tank reported, citing new satellite imagery. Asia maritime Transparency Initiative (AMIT) at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) said its findings came despite statements by the Chinese leadership that Beijing had no intentions to militarize the Islands in the strategic trade route, where territory is claimed by several countries.

China militarizes South China Sea. (2016, December 16). Philippine Daily Inquirer, pp. A1, A22.