Reuters, Beijing :
China has begun operating a lighthouse on one of its artificial islands in the South China Sea near which a US warship sailed last year to challenge China’s territorial claims.
China claims most of the energy-rich waters of the South China Sea, through which about $5 trillion in ship-borne trade passes every year. But neighbours Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan and Vietnam also have claims.
China’s transport ministry held a “completion ceremony”, marking the start of operations at the 55-metre (180-ft) high lighthouse on Subi Reef, where construction began in October, state news agency Xinhua said late on Tuesday.
China has begun operating a lighthouse on one of its artificial islands in the South China Sea near which a US warship sailed last year to challenge China’s territorial claims.
China claims most of the energy-rich waters of the South China Sea, through which about $5 trillion in ship-borne trade passes every year. But neighbours Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan and Vietnam also have claims.
China’s transport ministry held a “completion ceremony”, marking the start of operations at the 55-metre (180-ft) high lighthouse on Subi Reef, where construction began in October, state news agency Xinhua said late on Tuesday.
