U.S. Admiral Warns That China Has Fully Militarized Three Islands In S China Sea

U.S. admiral warns that China has fully militarized three islands in South China Sea

Madeleine Hubbard

"I think over the past 20 years we’ve witnessed the largest military buildup since World War II" by China, the admiral said.

At least three artificial islands in the contested South China Sea have been fully militarized by China, threatening all nearby nations, a top U.S. admiral warned Sunday.

Although Beijing promised that the islands it built would not be used for its military, the U.S. Indo-Pacific commander Adm. John C. Aquilino said the areas are armed with "anti-ship and anti-aircraft missile systems, laser and jamming equipment and fighter jets," the Associated Press reported.

"I think over the past 20 years we’ve witnessed the largest military buildup since World War II by the [People's Republic of China]," Aquilino told the AP. "They have advanced all their capabilities and that buildup of weaponization is destabilizing to the region."

Beijing did not immediately comment on the matter to AP. Chinese officials have contended before that their military is purely defensive.

However, after years of increased spending, China is now second only to the United States in its military budget. The Communist country increased its defense budget earlier this month and is expected to spend about $270 billion on its military this year, Voice of America reported. China is also rapidly modernizing its military with new technology and weapons systems. 

The AP interviewed Aquilino on a U.S. Navy reconnaissance aircraft near outposts held by China in the South China Sea. AP reporters witnessed China call on the U.S. aircraft to issue a warning.

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