China’s land reclamation in South China Sea grows, claims Pentagon report

US military says reclamation now totals more than 1,170 hectares, compared to an earlier estimate of 800 hectares

China has reclaimed more land in the disputed Spratly islands of the South China Sea than previously known, according to a new Pentagon report, which says Beijing is also completing construction of a runway on one of its seven man-made outposts.

Once the airstrip on Fiery Cross Reef was operational, China could potentially use it as an alternative runway for carrier-based planes, allowing the PLA to conduct “sustained operations” with aircraft carriers in the area, the report said.