"China was the earliest to explore, name, develop and administer various South China Sea islands," Foreign Minister Wang Yi said earlier this year. Chinese dredging vessels are purportedly seen in the waters around the disputed Spratly Islands in the South China Sea. A military plane carrying international journalists on March 23 provides an aerial view of the Taiwan-controlled Taiping island, also known as Itu Aba, in the South China Sea. An FA-18 jet fighter lands on the USS John C. Stennis aircraft carrier in the South China Sea on April 15, while U.S. Defence Secretary Ash Carter visited the aircraft carrier. Long-standing disputes among the countries that share the South China and East China seas with the Peoples' Republic have become more bitter and dangerous with China's growing military and financial muscle.

Source: CBC News July 11, 2016 09:06 UTC