外文标题：To bolster its claims， China plants islands in disputed waters来 自 西 陆 军 事 http://www.xilu.com

　　BEIJING： The islands have all that one could ask of a tropicalresortdestination： white sand， turquoise waters and sea winds。

　　But they took shape only in the last several months， and they are already emerging as a majorpointofconflictin the increasingly bitter territorial disputes between China and other Asian nations。

　　China has been movingsandonto reefs and shoals toaddseveral new islands to theSpratlyarchipelago， in whatforeignofficials say is a new effort to expand the Chinese footprint in theSouthChina Sea。 The officials say theislandswill be able to support large buildings，humanhabitation and surveillanceequipment，includingradar。

　　热带度假胜地该有的，这些岛屿都具备了：白色的沙子、蔚蓝的海水和清新的海风。

　　然而，仅仅几个月前成形的这些岛屿，已经成为了中国和其他亚洲国家越来越激烈的领土争端中的主要冲突点。

　　中国把沙子堆在珊瑚礁和浅滩上，给南沙群岛增加几个新岛屿，外国官员称此举是中国在南海扩大足迹的新努力，这些岛屿有能力支撑大型建筑、人类居住点和包括雷达在内的监控设备。