China says land reclamation project to be 'completed soon'

BEIJING -- China is about to complete its island-building project in a disputed part of the South China Sea, the government announced Tuesday.

     "In accordance with the set work plan, the land reclamation project for China's construction on some islands and reefs of the Nansha Islands will be completed soon," said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, using the Chinese name for the Spratly Islands. With economic and strategic dialogues with the U.S. scheduled for next Tuesday, it appears China will temporarily cease any further building activities to avoid more friction.

     There are still doubts that China is truly done with its work at the islands. For example, many people connected to the Chinese military claim  the project as it stands now is insufficient. It is possible the country is waiting for the heat from the international community to cool down before resuming.

 China announced the completion right after U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry criticized the speed and scope of the reclamation. The U.S. is also mulling sending warships to the surrounding waters.

     According to a source close to the military, China has interpreted the U.S. criticisms to apply only to the pace and scale of the project, not the project itself. It appears the Chinese have decided to meet the U.S. halfway with a temporary cessation.

     General Fan Changlong, vice chairman of China's Central Military Commission, met with U.S. Defense Secretary Ash Carter last Thursday in a move seen as the Chinese feeling out the U.S. thinking.

     According to remarks by Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Lu Kang, the island project is meant to fulfill "necessary military defense" needs and also "international obligations and responsibilities," such as maritime search and rescue and meteorological observation. He reiterated the official stance that the enterprise "falls within scope of China's sovereignty." Upon completing the reclamation, China plans to build various facilities that will satisfy "relevant functions" including harbor maintenance, the foreign ministry said.