China has spared no expense on its land reclamation activities in the South China Sea, spending an estimated 73.6 billion yuan (US$11.5 billion) on expanding Fiery Cross Reef in the Spratlys alone, reports our Chinese-language sister paper China Times.

For at least a year, China has been actively reclaiming land on seven islands in the Spratly islands, which are also claimed by countries including Vietnam and the Philippines. The largest (natural) island in the archipelago, Taiping, is held by Taiwan.

Fiery Cross Reef, which has been expanded to become the largest “island” in the Spratlys with a total surface area of 0.96 kilometers, is said to have cost the Chinese government 73.6 billion yuan (US$11.5 billion), excluding buildings and other fixed equipment constructed on the reef.

The cost was estimated by civil engineer scholars, who stated that it costs around 75 yuan (US$12.07) to deliver each cubic meter of earth and stone to Fiery Cross, with other materials costing about 41 yuan (US$6.60) per cubic meter.

Other reefs reportedly being expanded in the Spratlys by China include Cuarteron Reef, Mischief Reef, Johnson South Reef, Hughes Reef, Gaven Reef and Subi Reef.

Read more: http://www.wantchinatimes.com/news-subclass-cnt.aspx?id=20150415000103&cid=1101