China's wall of sand- Beijing's mischief transforms reef into island

DAVID E. SANGER and RICK GLADSTONE
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Washington, April 9: The clusters of Chinese vessels busily dredge white sand and pump it onto partly submerged coral, aptly named Mischief Reef, transforming it into an island.

Over a matter of weeks, satellite photographs show the island growing bigger, its few shacks on stilts replaced by buildings. What appears to be an amphibious warship, capable of holding 500 to 800 troops, patrols the reef's southern opening. 

The Chinese have clearly concluded that it is unlikely anyone will challenge them in an area believed rich in oil and gas and, perhaps more important, strategically vital. Last week Admiral Harry Harris, the commander of the US Pacific fleet, accused China of undertaking an enormous and unprecedented artificial land creation operation.