evidence: These islands are small and overcrowded, especially in the Spratly reef chain where there are competing territorial claims from China, Taiwan, Vietnam, Malaysia and the Philippines. [...] "The function of those islands is to expand the offensive capability of the PRC [People’s Republic of China] ... They can fly fighters, bombers plus all those offensive capabilities of missile systems," Mr Aquilino said at the time. [...] In 2015, Xi Jinping, during a visit to the White House said: "Relevant construction activities that China are undertaking in the island of South – Nansha (Spratly) Islands do not target or impact any country, and China does not intend to pursue militarisation."