Why China's land reclamation is legitimate and justified
- By Ma Shikun
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E-mail China.org.cn, September 8, 2015
Satellite images released by Digital World Holdings Ltd last May show Vietnam in an massive, ongoing effort to build out islands and reefs it has snatched from China. Mira Hooper, director of the Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative at CSIS, points out that satellite images taken between 2010 and April 2015 show that Vietnam has enlarged Xijiao Reef and Dunqian Bank (also known as West Reef and Sand Cay) by 65,000 square meters and 21,000 square meters respectively.
Fourth, it is worth drawing attention to a little-known fact to provide some context for China's recent activity. Back in February 1987, UNESCO's Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission adopted a joint plan to measure the global sea level, in which it asked the Chinese government to establish five oceanic observation stations on its territory, including Station No. 74 in the Nansha (also known as the Spratlys) and Station No. 26 in the Xisha (also known as the Paracels). The representatives of international organizations and national governments, including those of the Philippines and Vietnam, voted in favor of that decision.
China chose Yongshu Reef (also known as Fiery Cross Reef) as the site for the observation station in the Nansha islands. China's ongoing effort to improve and expand facilities thereon is, to a large extent, aimed at better fulfilling the task given to the Chinese government by the United Nations.
At any rate, on 16 June, the Chinese Foreign Ministry announced the completion of construction activities on relevant islands and reefs, confirming media analysis that China would not continue the land reclamation indefinitely.
For the above reasons, the land reclamation activities have no reason to become a stumbling block in China-US relations.
Ma Shikun is a senior commentator at the People’s Daily.
The original version of the commentary was published at Chinausfocus.com.
Opinion articles reflect the views of their authors, not necessarily those of China.org.cn.
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