Chinese President Xi Jinping recently denied claims that his country is militarizing its possessions in the South China Sea. While Xi has rejected such claims, satellite imagery paints a very different picture. For nearly two years, China has been engaged in a massive land reclamation project in the region increasing the land area of most of its possessions and in the process, turning small reef outcroppings into significantly larger islands. Additionally, military facilities have been identified on these islands and a significant airfield is nearing completion, all of which go far beyond what is required for their immediate defense. In light of this evidence, Xi continues to deny what so many already know.

Read more: http://www.valuewalk.com/2015/09/militarizing-south-china-sea/