China sees no wrong in SCS military build-up

Beijing, December 15

China today said 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. Foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said he was not aware of the report, but said 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”.

China’s defence ministry said on a verified social media account that the construction was mostly for civilian use, and that necessary military installations were for self-defence. “If someone were flexing his muscles outside your door, wouldn’t you get a slingshot ready?” it wrote. — AFP