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。
The island-building has alarmed Vietnam， the Philippines and other SoutheastAsiannations that alsoclaimsovereignty over the Spratlys。 Since April， the Philippines has filed protests to China against land reclamation at two reefs。 This month， thePhilippinepresident， Benigno SAquinoIII， criticized the movements of Chineseshipsthat he said could be engaged in island-building at two other sites。
Chinese actions have also worriedseniorUnited States officials。DefensesecretaryChuck Hagel scolded China for “land reclamation activities at multiple locations” in the South China Sea at a contentious securityconferenceinSingaporeinlateMay。
岛屿建设给越南、菲律宾和其他同样对南沙群岛声张主权的东南亚国家敲响了警钟。自从4月份以来，菲律宾已经就两个海礁的填海工程向中国提出了抗议。本月，菲律宾总统阿基诺三世批评中国船只的行动，称这些船只可能在其他两个地方进行填海造岛工程。
中国的行动同样让美国高级官员忧虑。美国国防部长查克？哈格尔5月底在新加坡举行的安全会议上，训斥中国在南海多个地方的填海活动。
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