South China Sea Artificial Islands

The Philippines said Sunday more than 135 Chinese vessels were "swarming" a reef off its coast, describing the boats' growing presence as "alarming".

China's claims to territory in the South China Sea, its construction of artificial islands in the region, and its establishment of a military base in Djibouti are all evidence of its desire to increase its sphere of influence.

The United States on Wednesday announced sanctions and restrictions on two dozen Chinese companies and associated officials for taking part in building artificial islands in disputed waters in the South China Sea.

A US Navy destroyer carried out a "freedom of navigation" operation on Friday, coming within 12 nautical miles of an artificial island built by China in the South China Sea, US officials told Reuters, a move likely to anger Beijing.

The Philippines will make a diplomatic protest to China, which it described as reneging on a promise not to militarise artificial islands in the busy South China Sea waterway, the southeast Asian nation's defence minister said on Monday.

China is expanding artificial islands in disputed South China Sea areas despite saying it stopped two years ago, according to a security think tank that released satellite images it said showed the land reclamation.

A U.S. Navy destroyer carried out a "freedom of navigation operation" on Thursday, coming within 12 nautical miles of an artificial island built up by China in the South China Sea, U.S. officials told Reuters.

A US Navy destroyer carried out a "freedom of navigation operation" on Thursday, coming within 12 nautical miles of an artificial island built up by China in the South China Sea, US officials told Reuters.

China has been expanding facilities in the islands under its control encouraging population settlements in the area, where Beijing also built artificial islands some with facilities for garrison as well as airstrip reinforcing its control over the area.

China has expressed "firm opposition" to remarks made by US Pentagon chief Jim Mattis during a regional defence summit over the weekend, after he criticised Beijing's "militarisation" of the South China Sea.

A US Navy warship sailed within 12 nautical miles of an artificial island built up by China in the South China Sea, the first such challenge to Beijing in the strategic waterway since US President Donald Trump took office. The USS Dewey travelled close to the Mischief Reef in the Spratly Islands.

China appears to have largely completed major construction of military infrastructure on artificial islands it has built in the South China Sea and can now deploy combat planes and other military hardware there at any time, a U.S. think tank said on Monday.

China is not militarising the disputed South China Sea, the country's premier insisted in Australia on Friday, claiming defence equipment Beijing has installed on artificial islands is 'primarily' for civilian use.

China, in an early test of U.S. President Donald Trump, has nearly finished building almost two dozen structures on artificial islands in the South China Sea that appear designed to house long-range surface-to-air missiles, two U.S. officials told Reuters.

Donald Trump's secretary of state pick Rex Tillerson hit out at China Wednesday during his Senate confirmation hearing, warning the US would send a "clear signal" that the Asian giant must abandon its artificial islands in the South China Sea.

The Philippines said Sunday more than 135 Chinese vessels were "swarming" a reef off its coast, describing the boats' growing presence as "alarming".

China's claims to territory in the South China Sea, its construction of artificial islands in the region, and its establishment of a military base in Djibouti are all evidence of its desire to increase its sphere of influence.

The United States on Wednesday announced sanctions and restrictions on two dozen Chinese companies and associated officials for taking part in building artificial islands in disputed waters in the South China Sea.

A US Navy destroyer carried out a "freedom of navigation" operation on Friday, coming within 12 nautical miles of an artificial island built by China in the South China Sea, US officials told Reuters, a move likely to anger Beijing.

The Philippines will make a diplomatic protest to China, which it described as reneging on a promise not to militarise artificial islands in the busy South China Sea waterway, the southeast Asian nation's defence minister said on Monday.

China is expanding artificial islands in disputed South China Sea areas despite saying it stopped two years ago, according to a security think tank that released satellite images it said showed the land reclamation.

A U.S. Navy destroyer carried out a "freedom of navigation operation" on Thursday, coming within 12 nautical miles of an artificial island built up by China in the South China Sea, U.S. officials told Reuters.

A US Navy destroyer carried out a "freedom of navigation operation" on Thursday, coming within 12 nautical miles of an artificial island built up by China in the South China Sea, US officials told Reuters.

China has been expanding facilities in the islands under its control encouraging population settlements in the area, where Beijing also built artificial islands some with facilities for garrison as well as airstrip reinforcing its control over the area.

China has expressed "firm opposition" to remarks made by US Pentagon chief Jim Mattis during a regional defence summit over the weekend, after he criticised Beijing's "militarisation" of the South China Sea.

A US Navy warship sailed within 12 nautical miles of an artificial island built up by China in the South China Sea, the first such challenge to Beijing in the strategic waterway since US President Donald Trump took office. The USS Dewey travelled close to the Mischief Reef in the Spratly Islands.

China appears to have largely completed major construction of military infrastructure on artificial islands it has built in the South China Sea and can now deploy combat planes and other military hardware there at any time, a U.S. think tank said on Monday.

China is not militarising the disputed South China Sea, the country's premier insisted in Australia on Friday, claiming defence equipment Beijing has installed on artificial islands is 'primarily' for civilian use.

China, in an early test of U.S. President Donald Trump, has nearly finished building almost two dozen structures on artificial islands in the South China Sea that appear designed to house long-range surface-to-air missiles, two U.S. officials told Reuters.

Donald Trump's secretary of state pick Rex Tillerson hit out at China Wednesday during his Senate confirmation hearing, warning the US would send a "clear signal" that the Asian giant must abandon its artificial islands in the South China Sea.