China is Building a Third Airstrip in the South China Sea, Defying United States

China is working on completing a third airfield in the South China Sea despite the fact that it previously said that it had stopped its construction activities, which the United States and a number of regional nations have demanded stop.

China is building the island on the aptly named Mischief Reef, according to Reuters. China has built military installations on islands and atolls and reefs turned into island using land reclamation over the past two years in an effort to stake a claim to the area's rich fish stocks and possible oil reserves. Other countries with claims in the region include Malaysia, Brunei, Vietnam, the Philippines, Taiwan, and Singapore.

China has already built at least one airway capable of supporting every aircraft in the Chinese air force. With the third air strip, China would be able to carry out constant patrols over areas claimed by the Philippines. It would also enable China to threaten air traffic in the air space over the entire sea.

The ongoing construction in the South China Sea, along with alleged hacking of U.S. government computer networks by China is sure to keep President Barack Obama and his counterpart Xi Jinping busy when Jinping visits the United States on a state visit later in September.

The United States has repeatedly called for China and others with claims in the region to stop building structures and islands. Vietnam has also carried out reclamation works in the area, but not to the extent of China.

China views the South China Sea as part of its historical rights, even though it is well outside the 250 miles of control allowed by the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.