BEIJING, Sept. 10 (UPI) -- China justified its reclamation of disputed islands in the South China Sea Wednesday by claiming it has sovereignty over the entire area. <\/p>\n
China and several of its neighbors are disputing ownership of islands and reefs in the South and East China Seas. <\/p>\n
At a press briefing Wednesday, Foreign Affairs Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying responded to a question about a report by the BBC. The report noted the reefs in the South China Sea's Spratly Islands, claimed by both the Philippines and China and named the Nansha Islands in China, were being enlarged by Chinese construction crews who are dredging rocks and sand from the sea floor to increase the land mass of the reefs. <\/p>\n
\"We have answered this question many times before, and I suppose you must be fully aware of China's position. China asserts indisputable sovereignty over the Nansha Islands and the adjacent waters, and China's activities on relevant islands and reefs of the Nansha Islands fall entirely within China's sovereignty and are totally justifiable,\" Hua said. <\/p>\n
The Philippines, in May, released photos of the reef in question that suggested an airstrip was under construction. The country's Department of Foreign Affairs said it regards the construction work as destabilizing and contrary to both international law and a 2002 treaty between nations bordering the sea. <\/p>\n
2014 United Press International, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Any reproduction, republication, redistribution and\/or modification of any UPI content is expressly prohibited without UPI's prior written consent.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Go here to see the original:<\/p>\n
China defends South China Sea island reclamation<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" BEIJING, Sept. 10 (UPI) -- China justified its reclamation of disputed islands in the South China Sea Wednesday by claiming it has sovereignty over the entire area. China and several of its neighbors are disputing ownership of islands and reefs in the South and East China Seas. Continue reading