By Shannon Tiezzi
China isn’t the only country that comes under fire, but its capabilities make it the Pentagon’s chief concern.
A new report from the U.S. Department of Defense, entitled “The Asia-Pacific Maritime Security Strategy [PDF],” provides the clearest look to-date at the U.S. military’s view of the maritime situation in the Asia-Pacific region, particularly the maritime disputes in the South China Sea.
The report includes a detailed section on land reclamation in the South China Sea. While it references earlier efforts by the Philippines, Malaysia, Vietnam, and Taiwan, the bulk of the analysis focuses on China’s recent activities. The Pentagon reports that from December 2013 to June 2015, China “reclaimed more than 2,900 acres of land… accounting for approximately 95 percent of all reclaimed land in the Spratlys.” That’s up nearly 50 percent over a previous Pentagon estimate in May, which said China has reclaimed about 2,000 acres.
Read the full story at The Diplomat