China should put more focus on building civilian facilities on islands in the South China Sea and less emphasis on the military to better sooth regional fears about China's intentions, an influential state-run paper said on Wednesday. The disputed, strategic waterway is claimed almost in its entirety by China, whose continued building of military installations on artificial islands and reefs there has unnerved the region and angered Washington. In a commentary, China's Study Times said there was a "potential risk of war" for areas surrounding the country such as the South China Sea.

More civilian focus, less military, in South China Sea would ease fears: Chinese paper. (2018, November 22). Malaya Business Insight, p. B5.