Is China building islands in the South China Sea?

A CNN article, citing the University of the Philippines, shared a photo from Houteng Reef in the South China Sea, claiming that China had destroyed “vibrant corals”.

--Fact check: The so-called “corals” were nothing more than aquatic algae.

In their rush to align with the Philippine government and cast China as the villain, Western media seem unconcerned about skipping the basics — truth and accuracy.