China installed weapons on South China Sea islands: Report

The Times of India
WORLD

China installed weapons on South China Sea islands: Report

AP | Updated: Dec 15, 2016, 10.42 AM IST


A satellite image shows what CSIS Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative says appears to be anti-aircraft guns ...

BEIJING: A US think tank says recent satellite images appear to show that China has installed anti-aircraft and anti-missile weapons on its man-made islands in the South China Sea.
The Center for Strategic and International Studies said in a report late Wednesday that the anti-aircraft guns and close-in weapons systems designed to guard against missile attack have been placed on all seven of China's newly created islands.
The outposts were built in recent years by piling sand on top of coral reefs followed by the construction of airstrips, barracks, lighthouses and radar stations and other infrastructure.

China says the islands are intended to boost maritime safety in the region. They also mark its claim to ownership of practically the entire South China Sea, its islands, reefs and other maritime features.

The president-elect has called for a reconsideration of its commitments to its Asian allies, including Japan and South Korea, while simultaneously criticizing Chinese trade policy toward the US and its new territorial assertiveness.
Trump referred to China's man-made islands in a tweet earlier this month, saying Beijing didn't ask the US if it was OK to 'build a massive military complex in the South China Sea.'

The US got over a 100 bases in that area , did they seek permission from China ? ::confused::