China has been building on islands in the disputed seas to expand its claim despite other countries trying to push them back. The country has warned other powers, which also lay claim on the Spratly Islands, should not provoke or interfere in its domestic affairs, the South China Morning Post reported. General Joseph F Dunford Jnr noted during a presentation Chinese President Xi Jinping promised China would not militarise the islands.
Mr Dunford said: “What we see today are 10,000-foot runways, ammunition storage facilities, routine deployment of missile defence capabilities, aviation capabilities and so forth.
“So clearly they have walked away from that commitment.”
He went on to say China’s slowing of island construction is due to work being complete and not because of a change of heart.
Mr Dunford added: “To the extent that the military capabilities haven’t been increased in recent months, I assume that’s because the islands have now been developed to the point where they’ve provided the military capability that the Chinese require them to have.
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“I don’t know that I read much into no change over the last few months.”
The military official suggested further moves by China should be challenged.
Mr Dunford advised “tools” should be implemented.
He said: “I wasn’t suggesting a military response.
“But there’s certainly diplomatic and economic steps that can be taken to hold people accountable.
“There are other tools, primarily other tools, to deal with it.”
The US doesn’t have any claim on the region but insists on freedom of navigation operations in the area.
So far, they have conducted dozens of naval drills in the South China Sea since 2015.