China’s large-scale land reclamation around disputed reefs and shoals in the South China Sea is moving ahead steadily.

State media reported that it is on track to use giant island-builders to transform even more of the region.

Beijing claims nearly all of the sea and has been turning reefs in the Spratly and Paracel chains into islands and installing military facilities and equipment in the area. The report said, projects have completely changed the face of the South China Sea’s islands and reefs.

The aggressive campaign has been a source of contention with neighbouring countries. China’s sweeping claims overlap with those of Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia and Brunei, as well as Taiwan.