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| China's Artificial Island built on Fiery Cross Reef |
China said Thursday that the deployment of weapons in the South China Sea had "nothing to do with militarisation", calling the construction of defensive facilities "normal".
The comments came after images released by the US-based Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative (AMTI) showed a series of hexagonal structures on each of seven islets China constructed on uninhabitable rocks and reefs.
The structures appear to be large anti-aircraft guns and close-in weapons systems (CIWS) designed to take out incoming missiles and enemy aircraft, the AMTI said.
Speaking at a regular press briefing, foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuang told journalists that he was not aware of the report, but said that islands in the South China Sea were the country's "inherent territory".
"To conduct construction on China's own territory and deploy necessary national defence facilities is quite normal," he said, adding that the deployment of defensive weapons had "nothing to do with militarisation".
Read the full story at SpaceDaily