China begins operating lighthouse in disputed South China Sea islands

PanARMENIAN.Net - China has begun operating a lighthouse on one of its artificial islands in the South China Sea near which a U.S. warship sailed last year to challenge China's territorial claims, Reuters reports.

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 neighbors 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 high lighthouse on Subi Reef, where construction began in October, state news agency Xinhua said late on Tuesday, April 5.

China says much of its construction in the South China Sea is designed to fulfill its international obligations in terms of maritime safety, search and rescue and scientific research, according to Reuters.

Xinhua said the lighthouse, which emits a white light at night, "can provide efficient navigation services such as positioning reference, route guidance and navigation safety information to ships, which can improve navigation management and emergency response."