China has justified land reclamation work that has been conducted on disputed waters in the South China Sea, by saying it as sovereignty over the area.

Responding to a BBC report documenting China's construction work on Johnson Reef in the Spratly Islands, which China calls Nansha Islands, foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said whatever work is going on in the area is entirely justifiable.

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"China asserts indisputable sovereignty over the Nansha Islands and the adjacent waters, and China's activities on relevant islands and reefs of the Nansha Islands fall entirely within China's sovereignty and are totally justifiable," Hua said.

The Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs earlier released photos in May showing what it said was about nine hectares of land that has been built up by suctioning material from the sea bottom and dumping it onto the reef area. Floating heavy equipment, possibly dredging machines, were clearly visible in the photos.

The Philippines said it has documented at least four more reclamation activities being conducted by Chinese engineering crews between February and April 2014 in waters that it claims to be within its territory.

A report by the BBC authored by Rupert Wingfield-Hayes also said China was building new islands on five different reefs.

Satellite images have also corrobrated the report.

The BBC team said China has been dredging tons of rock and sand from the sea floor to pump into Johnson South reef in the Spratlys.

When asked at the foreign ministry's daily press briefing why China was reclaiming land, Hua said, "We have answered this question many times before, and I suppose you must be fully aware of China's position."

Hua would not say whether the reclamation was for commercial or military use, and instead replied that it was mainly "for the purpose of improving the working and living conditions of people stationed on these islands."

Aside from the Philippines, Vietnam, Brunei, Malaysia and Taiwan also have competing claims with China over various islands, reefs and shoals in the region.

In the East China Sea, relations between China and Japan are also currently under strain over a territorial row involving islands in the area.