China puts new weapons on South Sea islands-late 3

Beijing, China is adding new antiaircraft weapons to a string of islands in the middle of the South China Sea. In recent year, Beijing has turned coral reefs into small, outpost by piling sand and then building different insulation like barracks, lighthouses, and military-grade airstrips. China claims power over the full South China Sea even though Philippines and Vietnam border the sea. During an recent interview, Donald rump accused Beijing of building a "massive fortress in the middle of the South China Sea." Beijing still maintains that these 7 island are not military purpose but serve civilian. The United States has been very critical of the different building on the islands, China sees the presence of U.S. ships as interference and has repeatedly said "that it is the United States, not China, that wants to militarize the China Sea." The report by the U.S. groups that found the weapons claim that Beijing "is serious about defense of its artificial islands in case of an armed contingency in the South China Sea." Tensions between Washington and Beijing are still long-standing.