China deploys folk singer to disputed Spratly Islands

Chinese military chanteuse folk singer Song Zuying's career around the world has taken her to new destinations: she entertains workers on Fiery Cross Reef in the Spratlys in the South China Sea, the first stop of her tour in the disputed territory where China reclamed land and builiding military facilities on reefs. The photos of the perfomance reveal multi-story buildings and a large warship. Other Asian countries like Malaysia, Philippines and Vietnam, claim also sovereignty over the reefs and islands of the Spratlys, where China has been building artificial islands arguing that the structures are for civilian pruposes althought neighbour countries complain about the possible military use.

The show by Song with a 50.strong troupe of navy entertainers included magic tricks and many songs, and it took place in front of the People's Liberation Army's second ship. The photos show the extent of the infrastructure being built on Fiery Cross and large crowds of military personnel enjoying the show against a backdrop of the new facilities.
China turned the reef into an island throught a dredging operation and constructed buildings and an air strip.

NEW WORDS:
*reef
*backdrop
*strip
*dredging

PERSONAL COMMENT:
I find it a good idea and a boost for Song's career, but the topic with the artificial island.. I think too that it's relacionated with military use.

News item by the BBC