No sooner had we set the necessary priority for China to control its territories in the South China Sea (SCS) through its military presence, as Beijing did not have to wait long for a reciprocal step. China Central Television reported that the country will deploy new aviation squadrons, rescue units and administration at its outposts in the South China Sea. These activities will affect three reefs – Fire Cross, Subi and Mischief – China’s large artificial islands. It is stated that these formations will perform emergency rescue tasks at sea, oversee the safety of maritime traffic, prevent pollution of ships, protect the safety of navigation and daily production activities at sea for residents of coastal countries. In fact, China will gain more control over the Spratly Islands through organized watch on a regular basis, which will allow them to respond in a timely manner to threats posed mainly by the US military.