China has finally agreed to stop building new artificial islands. China's foreign ministry said that, although they have agreed to stop, efforts to continue and finish what they have already started will continue until such project is done.

According to Foreign Ministry Spokesman Lu Kang, the said islands were created to build facilities, both for the military and civilians. Amidst criticisms about their controversial island reclamations, the Chinese government was firm on saying they will not build military structures on the islands, instead they will build environmental structures, scientific search and maritime search.

Like Us on Facebook

Huang Jing from Chinese Foreign Policy said on the Wall Street Journal, "This is a step toward halting land reclamation, which the U.S has demanded, and at the same time, China can tell its people that it has accomplished what it wanted to do."  

The announcement, while it brought reassurance on China's allies and neighboring countries, has not totally diminish the fret that looms between them after announcing they will continue to build infrastructures on the already finished artificial islands.

According to the Wall Street Journal, which was published on JOHNIB, it said, "The imminent end to China's island - building work could signal a willingness to seek compromise with Washington and rival claimants in the South China Sea." The announcement of island-building cease was made prior to China's President Xi Jinping's U.S visit in September.

The auxiliary facilities built on said islands also reportedly brought concern to the U.S. government because of their rapid increase in the military budget, soaring as high as 175 percent since 2003. Huang Jing also added, "China is showing that - as a major power - it can control escalation, that it has the initiative, and that it can do what it sees fit for its interests." 

China's State Council announced last month that Chinese Navy will now concentrate on protecting the seas, rather than deploying defense offshore. A move that somehow also reportedly created doubts that the Chinese military is downplaying their military facilities being erected in some of the islands in the disputed seas. 

Tagsdisputed sea, artificial island, china sea, China military