The Beijing government has been accused of an unrestrained building campaign in the disputed islands of the South China Sea following publication of aerial photographs obtained by the Philippines Daily Inquirer, taken mostly annually. The images show increasing Chinese construction in the area, typically of runways, hangars, control towers and other buildings. The newspaper said this shows how China is expanding its power across this critical shipping route through which trillions of dollars of goods travel between June and December 2017. Although the newspaper used the phrase "island fortresses" Chinese media reported that the buildings are mainly for civilian use.
The Beijing government has been accused of an unrestrained building campaign in the disputed islands of the South China Sea following publication of aerial photographs obtained by the Philippines Daily Inquirer, taken mostly between June and December 2017. The images show increasing Chinese construction in the area, typically of runways, hangars, control towers and other buildings. The newspaper said this shows how China is expanding its power across this critical shipping route through which trillions of dollars of goods travel annually. Although the newspaper used the phrase "island fortresses" Chinese media reported that the buildings are mainly for civilian use.