China admitted expanding its islands in the disputed South China Sea, with continued construction in the challenged islands covering about 290,000 square meters or 29 hectares this year alone, state paper People’s Daily reported Monday. The report, which detailed Beijing’s “accelerated construction” and “enhanced military presence” on South China Sea islands and shoals over the past year, includes new facilities for underground storage, administrative buildings and large radar, which they claim “reasonably” expanded the area of South China Sea Islands—in a bid they claim enhances Chinese military defense capability within its sovereign scope and improve the lives of people living on the islands. Beijing said it has conducted extensive land reclamation work on some of the islands and reefs it controls in the South China Sea, including building airports; international services such as search-and-rescue; and the increase of civilian facilities.

Bencito, J. P., & Fabunan, S. S. (2017, December 26). China: Islands 'reasonably' expanded. Manila Standard, pp. A1, A2.