China on Tuesday said it has the right to develop South China Sea islands as it sees fit in the wake of U.S. accusations that it has fully militarized at least three of several islands it built in the disputed waterway in violation of a previous commitment. China’s deployment of “necessary national defense 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.
U.S. military activities in the area aimed to “stir up trouble and make provocations,” Wang said. “That seriously threatens the sovereignty and security of coastal countries and undermines the order and navigation safety in the South China Sea.”
On Sunday, U.S. Indo-Pacific Commander Adm. John C. Aquilino said
China had armed the islands with anti-ship and anti-aircraft missile systems, laser and jamming equipment, and fighter jets, in an increasingly aggressive move that threatens all nations operating nearby.
