China to put missiles on S China Sea islands: US officials

US officials accuse China of intending to deploy long-range surface-to-air missiles on its artificial islands in the disputed South China Sea.

China has almost completed the construction of concrete storage structures on Subi, Mischief and Fiery Cross reefs, which are part of the Spratly Islands chain, Reuters reported Wednesday, citing unnamed US officials.

Featuring retractable roofs, the buildings appear to be 20 meters (66 feet) long and 10 meters (33 feet) high, an official said.

“It is not like the Chinese to build anything in the South China Sea just to build it, and these structures resemble others that house SAM batteries, so the logical conclusion is that's what they are for,” said another US official.

The officials said that Washington might view the move as a military escalation in the region, but an equal military response was out of question.

"The logical response would also be political – something that should not lead to military escalation in a vital strategic area," he said.

The US has for long accused China of undertaking a land reclamation program in the South China Sea for military purposes.

SS