Man Your Islands

As concern rises over the reclamation and militarisation of the South China Sea islands, this is Suporno Chaudhury reporting from the United Nation Security Council (UNSC).

"The People's Republic of China has come late to the game, but its efforts are laudable, as it is piling up fortifications, and building airstrips at an unprecedented rate."

The Delegate of Japan along with numerous other delegates had upped the ante on the international pressure on China with regard to its reclamation and militarisation program in the South China Sea. Following the recent commercial satellite reports which showed the presence of military elements in the South China Sea, there were frowns of concern on the faces of most of the delegates. A few delegates quoted Xi Jinping's earlier statement, "Relevant construction activity that China is undertaking in the Nansha Islands (Chinese traditional name for the Spratley archipelago) does not target or impact any country, and there is no intention to militarise." and expressed anxiety at the fast fading glimmer of hope of a peaceful resolution that this had brought in the South China Sea dispute.

The Delegate of United Kingdom joined his voice to the furor saying "Acres of concrete are being pumped into the region." He went on to produce a list of all the islands in which the source stated that China had military presence, including majorly disputed islands like the Fiery Cross Reef, Mischief Reef, and the Woody islands in the Paracel.

The Delegate of China reiterated the words of his President, stating that the installations are for civilian purposes and for mantaining freedom of navigation only. Russia was quick to rush to the

defense of China. The Delegate of Russia and the Delegate of Uruguay defended their ally, stating that the installations in the Fiery Cross Reef are not military or hostile in nature, "China's (PRC) facility, Chinese islands and reefs, are primarily for civilian purposes, and even if there is a certain amount of defense equipment of facilities, it is for maintaining the freedom of navigation." Using the example of Vietnam's extension of their runway in the Spratley Islands, the Delegate of Russia pointed out the reclamation and the military fortifications being undertaken by the very same countries which had been blaming China.