China Finishes Lighthouse Construction in South China Sea

China has finished constructing lighthouses on disputed islands in the South China Sea despite objections by the United States and other nations in the region, signifying China's determination to assert itself in the region.

The lighthouses were built on Johnson South Reef and Cuateron Reef in the Spratly Islands and China says they will be used to aid in navigation, according to Reuters. The lighthouses are just the latest construction by China in the region.

China has been reclaiming land from the sea to build up reefs and atolls in to islands strong enough to support defensive military structures and airstrips. China has also deepened harbors to allow large warships to take refuge at some of these locations.

China says the construction is meant to enable search and rescue missions, deter piracy, ensure navigational security, and prevent illegal activities that could harm the environment.

The islands in question are claimed by a number of countries including Taiwan, Singapore, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Vietnam. Vietnam has also begun to reclaim land to create islands, but has not made as much progress as China. The United States has urged all these nations not to build structures on the islands, and has stepped up air and naval patrols in order to try and dissuade such actions.

The South China Sea is home to large fish stocks and it is also thought that there are large amounts of oil and natural gas underneath the sea floor.

It is not uncommon for fishermen from each country to get into fights on the open ocean, sometimes even ramming each other's vessels.