Beijing says it has the right to develop South China Sea islands militarily

Beijing, March 22

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China on Tuesday said it has the right to develop South China Sea islands as it sees fit in the wake of US accusations that it has fully militarised at least three of several islands it built in the disputed waterway in violation of a previous commitment.

China’s deployment of “necessary national defence facilities on its own territory is a right entitled to every sovereign country and is in line with international law, which is beyond reproach”, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin told reporters at a daily briefing.

US military activities in the area aimed to “stir up trouble and make provocations”, Wang said. — AP

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