South China Sea watch: New islands rising, ASEAN worried

The dispute over the strategic waterways of the South China Sea has intensified, pitting a rising China against its smaller and militarily weaker neighbors who all lay claim to a string of isles, coral reefs and lagoons known as the Spratly and the Paracel islands. Only about 45 of them are occupied. The area is the third-busiest global shipping lane, rich in fish and potentially gas and oil reserves, but has emerged as a possible flashpoint involving world powers and regional claimants. A series of high-resolution satellite images, the latest of which were taken in February and March and released by defense publication IHS Jane’s, show that China has intensified the construction of artificial islands by dredging sand from submerged coral reefs and building up land mass, sometimes doubling or tripling the size of existing features.

If China were to successfully claim the entire South China Sea, which is what they do claim, and apply their interpretation of the rights of the country, then it would severely restrict the military operations of the United States, Japan, other countries.

Retired Adm. Dennis Blair, commander U.S. forces in the Pacific 1999-2002

The leaders of the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations — which includes the Philippines and Vietnam, the most vocal critics of China — issued a statement condemned Beijing. After an annual summit hosted by Malaysia, ASEAN said that China’s landfill work “eroded trust and confidence and may undermine peace, security and stability in the South China Sea.” It said members instructed their foreign ministers to “urgently address this matter constructively.” China responded by saying it was “severely concerned” over the statement. Spokesman Hong Lei said that reclamation and construction work was entirely legal and shouldn’t be questioned.

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