China will be finishing its man-made land reclamation projects in South China Sea "very soon", according to China's Foreign Ministry Tuesday. This reportedly that Beijing is near to the finish in setting up of new outposts in the center of Southeast Asia maritime area.

"Based on our understanding from the relevant authorities, in accordance with the set work plan, the land reclamation project for China's construction on some islands and reefs on the Nansha islands will be completed soon," the Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

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Nansha is reportedly Chinese for the Spratlys.

The announcement comes days following calls from the United States for China to stop island building in the disputed region, according to The Business Standard.

The surprise move is seen by many as an apparent attempt to ease tensions between parties concerned in the region.

There Foreign Ministry has not specified which of the seven reefs which are under construction they are referring to.

The statement was already "quite detailed", according to Ministry spokesman Lu Kang.

Last year, China has stepped up construction of man-made islands in the disputed regions, resulting alarm in several Asian countries and Washington's criticism.

Tensions between the U.S and Chinese military around the Spratlys have been apparent in recent months.

Most of South China Sea is being claimed by China.

The region is the heart of maritime trade in Asia as $5 trillion in ship-borne trade passes through the area yearly.  Countries with overlapping claims include Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei, the Philippines and Taiwan, according to Reuters.

China's reclamation work has far outmatched the pace and scale of other claimant countries, according to U.S. officials.

Before January 2014, Beijing only had five hectares. This quickly blew up to 800 hectares, over four hundred times to date, said one official.

Visible in recent satellite images are a stockpile of buildings as well as other work on the artificial islands, including military facilities on Fiery Cross Reef.

According to the Foreign Ministry, China's reclamation projects in the region are for disaster relief, maritime search and rescue, environmental protection as well as navigational assistance.

The statement from the ministry said following the completion of the reclamation projects, China would be building facilities to "fulfill the relevant functions" mentioned above.

China added that the constructions are "lawful, reasonable and justified and would cause no harm to the marine environment," reported The Associated Press.

Meanwhile, more than anything else, U.S.' concern is mainly on China's possible declaration of an exclusion zone in the area, which would limit ships and aircraft navigation.

Tagschina finishes land reclamation, SCS, spratlys