China's artificial islands in the disputed South China Sea are now heavily fortified, according to Washington-based think tank Asian Maritime Transparency Initiative (AMTI). The Department of National Defense (DND), raising concerns over this latest security development in the South China Sea and West Philipine Sea, is verifying the report. Earlier, the commander of the United States Pacific Command (PACOM), Navy Admiral Harry Harris Jr., said the US is ready to confront China should the latter insist on enforcing its claims to most of the South China Sea.

Laude, J., & Lee-Brago, P. (2016, December 16). Report: China's artificial islands now weaponized. The Philippine Star, pp. 8, 10.