China’s creation of artificial islands in the South China Sea is happening so fast that Beijing will be able to extend the range of its Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard and fishing fleets before long, much to the alarm of rival claimants to the contested waters. Reclamation work is well advanced on six reefs in the Spratly archipelago, according to recently published satellite photographs and Philippine officials. In addition, Manila said this month that Chinese dredgers had started reclaiming a seventh.

China’s ‘new islands’ in disputed seas alarming. (2015, February 20). Philippine Daily Inquirer, p. A27.