Facilities on reefs mostly for 'civilian use'

The frequent muscle flexing by some countries in the South China Sea is the biggest cause for the militarization of the region, the Foreign Ministry said on Wednesday in response to a joint statement made by US and Australian foreign and defense ministers.

The facilities constructed on the reefs of the Nansha Islands are mostly for civilian use, aiming to better serve coastal nations in the South China Sea and passing vessels from around the world, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying told a news conference.

"Of course, there are also some necessary military facilities, which are purely for self-defense purposes, and they are also limited," she said, adding that the construction of the facilities is to meet the requirements of China's safety, and China has not militarized the reefs.