Washington, Feb 27 (IANS/EFE): The director of US National Intelligence, James Clapper, has expressed concern at the progress of China in maritime zones it shares with its neighbours, especially with artificial islands being created as aerial platforms.

At a hearing of the Senate Armed Services Committee Thursday, Clapper said that China was adopting a very aggressive role in the South China Sea with the construction of artificial islands on previously uninhabited atolls, pointing to a worrying trend.

According to Clapper, examples such as the transformation of the Hughes Reef, in the disputed Spratly Islands (called Nansha in Chinese), demonstrates China's intention of consolidating its maritime expansion with the construction of airfields.

Hughes Reef, which a year ago was still under water, is now a construction zone with a helipad and a dredged area to allow the berthing of deep draft ships, according to images revealed last week by the IHS Janes study centre.

"What the Chinese are doing here is building airfields to launch aircraft for patrols and surveillance in an area considered under its sovereignty," said Clapper.

Clapper also said that the animosity that is motivating Chinese expansion among the majority of its neighbours like Vietnam, Philippines, Japan and Malaysia can be a good thing, because then it would help in deciding if joint action can be taken against Beijing.

Republican Senator John McCain, one of the “hawks” of the party, said that at the moment attention was focused elsewhere in the world but the actions of China were very significant.

Clapper also said that China's impressive military modernisation was deliberately designed to counter US strength.

"They want to deny our potential in monitoring, control and armament (in Asia-Pacific)," Clapper said in commenting on the rapid expansion and military investment by Beijing.