MOSCOW (Sputnik) — The South China Sea dispute between China and a number of regional states centers around the Spratly Islands, which is a group of over 750 islands and reefs that are believed to hold significant oil and gas reserves.
Countries laying claim to the islands say they serve as an important commercial shipping route.
"Two probable radar towers have been built on the northern portion of the feature, and a number of 65-foot (20-meter) poles have been erected across a large section of the southern portion. These poles could be a high-frequency radar installation, which would significantly bolster China’s ability to monitor surface and air traffic across the southern portion of the South China Sea," the statement published Monday reads.
Beijing has claimed sovereignty over the Spratly Islands and a 12-nautical-mile zone that surrounds them, but Washington has persistently challenged its claims by conducting patrols near the islands citing freedom of navigation.
