Special to WorldTribune.com

The United States is ramping up its criticism as China continues its dredging and militarization  on several disputed islands in the South China Sea.

“The South China Sea, as the name indicated, is a sea area. It belongs to China,” declared Chinese PLAN Vice Adm. Yuan Yubai.

“The South China Sea is no more China’s than the Gulf of Mexico is Mexico’s,” responded Adm. Harry Harris, commander of U.S. Pacific Command.

The criticism has not swayed Beijing as construction on the South China Sea islands continues with the openly-declared intent to use them for military purposes, according to security correspondent Bill Gertz in a report for Asia Times.

What is seen as China’s push for control of strategic waterways in the South China Sea is expected to be discussed when Chinese President Xi Jinping meets with U.S. President Barack Obama in Washington on Sept. 25.

During testimony before the U.S. Senate, Harris warned that China is putting peace and stability in the Asia Pacific “at risk” with its military buildup and maritime encroachment.

Though it has been going on for years, China’s buildup in the South China Sea was largely ignored by the Obama administration until tensions among the regional states, mainly Vietnam and Philippines, increased several years ago.

According to the report, Beijing’s aspirations of a takeover of the South China Sea has been low-profile, and followed a meticulous step-by-step approach that gradually asserted Chinese authority over a number of disputed reefs and islets at two main locations: the Paracels in the north and the Spratlys in the south.

Harris, in testimony before the Senate Armed Services Committee on Sept. 17, disclosed that the Chinese are building 10,000-foot runways on three new islands, including Fiery Cross Reef. The runway construction  “gives me great concern militarily.”

“And they’re also building deep water port facilities there which could put their deep water ships there, their combatant ships there, which gives them an extra capability,” he said. “And if you look at all the facilities then you can imagine a network of missile sites, runways for their fifth-generation fighters and surveillance sites and all of that. It creates a mechanism by which China would have de facto control over the South China Sea in any scenario short of war.”

The disputed islands are claimed by Vietnam, Philippines, Brunei, Malaysia, and Taiwan.

  Adm. Harry Harris, China ignores U.S. objections, continues to seize control of strategic sea lanes, Paracel Islands, Spratly Islands, WorldTribune.com