China defends lighthouses construction in South China Sea

China responded on Tuesday to the Philippines' criticism of lighthouses constructed in the South China Sea, saying "these actions do not change the status quo there".

China says lighthouses significantly improve navigation safety

Chinese Foreign Ministry said Saturday that the two lighthouses recently built on reefs in the South China Sea will help guide passing vessels and significantly improve navigation safety.

China completes construction of two large lighthouses in the South China Sea

The Ministry of Transport held a completion ceremony for the construction of Huayang and Chigua Lighthouses on Huayang Reef of China's Nansha Islands, marking the start of the operation of the two lighthouses.

Lighthouse construction on Xisha, Nansha "irreproachable". (Chinese FM)

Building lighthouses on Xisha and Nansha islands is an irreproachable act of China which observes its obligation to ensure navigational safety within its territory, a spokeswoman said Friday.


 
Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Hua Chunying said China has long been building and maintaining lighthouses and other navigational aid facilities on Nansha and Xisha islands, China's inherent territory, in line with international regulations.

China to Build Lighthouses on 5 Isles in Defiance of US Call

BEIJING— China plans to build lighthouses on five islands in the South China Sea, state media reported on Thursday, in defiance of calls from the United States and the Philippines for a freeze on such activity to ease tension over rival claims.

At least two of the islands upon which China said it will put up lighthouses appear to be in waters also claimed by Vietnam.

Overlapping claims in the South China Sea have fueled confrontation in recent months with China, which claims 90 percent of the sea and is at odds with Vietnam and the Philippines in particular.