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| Original outpost shown in yellow box, Island "built" on top of the reef |
By Patricia Lourdes Viray
MANILA, Philippines — Beijing reiterated that its construction activities on several islands in the disputed South China Sea are for the benefit of its people stationed there.
The Chinese Foreign Ministry, however, stressed that China has never used the term "artificial islands" where they have stationed people.
"Relevant islands where we station our personnel are not created by magic tricks. They have been there since always," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying said in a press briefing last Friday.
Hua added that the construction on islands in the South China Sea is to improve the working and living conditions of people stationed in the region.
The statement was made in response to a report that the Chinese Defense Ministry spokesperson said that there is no such issue of artificial islands amid Beijing's construction and deployment of radars on islands and reefs in the disputed waters.
"The Chinese side has repeatedly expressed its position on construction in the South China Sea. Necessary construction by the Chinese side on some of its islands is to improve the working and living conditions of people stationed there, and better its public services for international vessels passing by," Hua said.
Read the full story at PhilStar