Fortified South China Sea artificial islands project Beijing's military reach and power, say observers
![South China Sea: Beijing's military bases in disputed waters would be very difficult to defend, report claims | CNN South China Sea: Beijing's military bases in disputed waters would be very difficult to defend, report claims | CNN](https://media.cnn.com/api/v1/images/stellar/prod/201207010914-fiery-cross-reef-2018-file-restricted.jpg?q=w_3000,h_1543,x_0,y_0,c_fill)
South China Sea: Beijing's military bases in disputed waters would be very difficult to defend, report claims | CNN
![Duan Dang on Twitter: "Close-up photos of Fiery Cross Reef in the South China Sea https://t.co/avbpls0tpT" / Twitter Duan Dang on Twitter: "Close-up photos of Fiery Cross Reef in the South China Sea https://t.co/avbpls0tpT" / Twitter](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DJbRD29UIAAjqwY.jpg)
Duan Dang on Twitter: "Close-up photos of Fiery Cross Reef in the South China Sea https://t.co/avbpls0tpT" / Twitter
![US admiral says China fully militarized at least three of several islands in South China Sea | Daily Mail Online US admiral says China fully militarized at least three of several islands in South China Sea | Daily Mail Online](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2022/03/20/23/55590413-0-image-a-14_1647817309626.jpg)