U.S. intelligence Chief James Clapper categorically said to the U.S. senate on Tuesday that he expects China will continue building artificial islands to supports its claim in the disputed South China Sea. This is despite the assurances from the Chinese government that further land reclamation in the South China Sea has been halted.

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Foreign experts believe that this statement by the U.S. Intelligence Chief is in fact an acceptance by Washington that recent pressure on China has not garnered desirable results.          

Beijing''s increasingly assertive posture in the South China Sea is still expected to be one of the talking points in the 'US-ASEAN Summit' in California next week.

Last month, U.S Secretary of State John Kerry visited all major ASEAN countries to rally support against China's actions in the South China Sea.

China's artificial island controversy   

Over the past two years, Beijing has dramatically invested in construction activities in South China Sea - specially around Spratly Island, which is also claimed by Philippines, Taiwan, Malaysia, Vietnam and Brunei. All these neighbors share a very frosty relationship over this island and other contentious area of the South China Sea with China.                          

The U.S., in protest of China's expansion in the South China Sea, has conducted two freedom of navigation patrols with warships sailing within 12 nautical miles of China's artificial islands. The last freedom of navigation patrol by the U.S. in the disputed area was carried out last month. China dubbed as 'provocative' and it has expectedly strained the relationship between the two countries.   

TagsSouth China Sea, china