The United States will continue to confront China’s militarization of man-made islands in the South China Sea, Defense Secretary Jim Mattis said Tuesday, arguing that Beijing hasn’t abided by its promise not to put weapons on the Spratly Islands. Mattis said American ships are maintaining a “steady drumbeat” of naval operations around the disputed islands, adding that “only one country” seems to be bothered by the vessels’ routine activities.

Laude, J. (2018, May 31). US to keep confronting Beijing in SCS. Philippine Star, p. 2.