In 2015, Chinese President Xi Jinping stood at the White House Rose Garden and assured the international community that China had “𝐧𝐨 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐨 𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐳𝐞” the features of Spratly Islands. More than a decade later, that statement continues to draw attention as satellite imagery and international reports reveal the extensive military infrastructure now present across artificial islands in the 𝐖𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐏𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐩𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐒𝐞𝐚.
Philippine Coast Guard Spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea, 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐫 𝐀𝐝𝐦𝐢𝐫𝐚𝐥 𝐉𝐚𝐲 𝐓𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐥𝐚, in his facebook statement pointed to the growing military buildup as evidence that Beijing failed to uphold its public commitment.
Source: https://www.facebook.com/61555492020462/posts/122270797688183067/?app=fbl
