To legitimize its claims China has built up artificial islands in the Spratly Chain.

为了使其主张合法化，中国在南沙群岛建造了人工岛。

During his confirmation hearings, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson even proposed preventing the Chinese from accessing the artificial islands.

在他的任命听证会上，国务卿雷克斯·蒂勒森甚至提议阻止中国人进入人工岛。

Over the last few years, China has aggressively built up artificial islands, extending its military capability far beyond its own borders.

在过去的几年里，中国大力建造人工岛，将其军事能力远远扩展到本国边界之外。

So China has refused to abide by it, instead, continuing to build up artificial islands to reinforce its claims of sovereignty.

因此中国拒绝遵守它，而是继续建造人工岛以加强其主权主张。

Most of the region welcomed the news, but the Chinese government pretty much pretended the ruling never happened, building more artificial islands and bases since.

该地区的大部分地区都对这一消息表示欢迎，但中国政府几乎假装该裁决从未发生过，此后建造了更多的人工岛和基地。

So, for now, it looks like they're on the backburner, while the Chinese continue to militarize those artificial islands and increase their strategic capabilities far beyond its shores.

因此，就目前而言， 他们似乎处于次要地位，而中国人继续将这些人工岛军事化， 并在远离其海岸的地方增强其战略能力。

For the past year, it has stepped up its naval operations in South China Sea, sailing within miles of China's artificial islands, showing its commitment to maintaining freedom of navigation.

过去一年，它加强了在南海的海军行动，在中国人工岛附近数英里范围内航行，表明其维护航行自由的承诺。