China defended its massive military construction and development projects in the disputed South China Sea Wednesday.

“China’s construction in the South China Sea has turned its islands into the best-equipped, most advanced bases in the region with airports, hospitals, agriculture and 4G mobile signal,” the Global Times argued, citing a Chinese military publication.

The South China Sea is a highly-contested region where more than $5 trillion in trade passes annually. The disputes in this region have at times triggered skirmishes and open conflict at sea. China, which claims the vast majority of the South China Sea, has been at the heart of most major incidents. A particular point of contention is China’s construction of military outposts.

The Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague discredited China’s claims to the South China Sea on July 12, yet China has continued its questionable activities.

Read more: http://dailycaller.com/2016/12/08/china-again-argues-that-paving-over-south-china-sea-with-runways-is-a-good-idea/#ixzz4SaRk1dKK