China is reportedly proceeding with the construction of artificial islands on at least two reefs, which are claimed by the Philippines, despite Beijing promising to end some work soon.
Mayor Eugenio Bito-onon of Kalayaan Islands, which falls under Philippine’s control, said that he saw Chinese land reclamation activity going on in ‘full swing,’ with many dredgers and huge cranes visible near Subi Reef, reports The Guardian.
He noted that it was ‘full-blast, massive and incredible’ construction and added that it would take months before the Chinese completed the work.
In the middle part of the artificial island, a three kilometre landfill is taking the shape of a runway, Bito-onon said.