A US-based thinktank on Monday revealed that the latest satellite images of the South China Sea shows that China is constructing an airstrip in Mischief Reef.

The images, presented by the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), were taken last week. According to Greg Poling, the director of Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative, the images show that China has been reclaiming over 3,000 yards of land in the Mischief Reef (known as Meiji Jiao in China).

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He pointed out that the size of the land is consistent with two other airstrips that China has constructed in different parts of the disputed territory.

If indeed China is building another airstrip in the South China Sea, it would be the third airfield owned by the country in the tightly contested area. Experts have pointed out that this airstrip could potentially boost China's military capacity in the region as the latest military jets would be able to land on it.

Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan all have competing claims with China regarding the ownership of the South China Sea. While most of these countries also have outposts in the area, international observers have been alarmed by the pace and magnitude of China land reclamation activities. According to the US, in just over a year, China has reclaimed up to 2,000 acres of land.

China's land reclamation activities in the South China Sea has been a source of tension with neighboring countries that also have ownership claims in the territory. In August, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi announced that the country's land reclamation in the region has been completed. Chinese officials, however, said that the country will continue to construct facilities in the new islands.

Experts say China's continued land reclamation and ongoing construction works in the South China Sea is a stumbling block to opening talks with other claimants.

According to Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative, China has reclaimed up to 5,580,000 square meters of land on Mischief Reef. The country is believed to also be planning to construct a naval base on the islet.

On Monday, China Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei refused to confirm reports about the ongoing construction of an airstrip in Mischief Island. Hong, nonetheless, said China's construction activities in the islands are "completely lawful, reasonable and justified."

"As a responsible country and the largest littoral state in the South China Sea, China has the capability, need and obligation to provide the region and the international community with more public goods and services and satisfy the requirement of military defense by building some necessary facilities in the South China Sea," he said.

TagsChina Third Airstrip South China Sea, China Mischief Reef Airstrip, Meji Jiao Airstrip, Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS)