China says defense weapons on artificial islands are just slingshots

China’s Defense Ministry said in a statement on its website that military installations on artificial islands it created in the South China Sea are for defense and self-protection.

“If someone makes a show of force at your front door, would you not ready your slingshot?”

The response came after Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative (AMTI) published photos this week showing anti-aircraft weapons on each of the islands that China occupied in the Spratly archipelago.