And it begins. US recon reveals China is weaponizing the artificial islands.

via Market Watch

U.S. surveillance imagery shows China has positioned weaponry on one of the artificial islands it is developing in the South China Sea, American officials said, supporting their suspicions that Beijing has been building up reefs for military purposes.
The U.S. imagery detected two Chinese motorized artillery pieces on one of the artificial islands built by China about one month ago. While the artillery wouldn’t pose a threat to U.S. planes or ships, U.S. officials said it could reach neighboring islands and that its presence was at odds with China’s public statements that the reclaimed islands are mainly for civilian use.
“There is no military threat,” a U.S. official told The Wall Street Journal on Thursday. “But it is about the symbolism.”
While posing no military threat to the U.S., the motorized artillery was within range of an island claimed by Vietnam that Hanoi has armed with various weaponry for some time, the American officials said. Vietnamese officials didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.
A Chinese Embassy spokesman in Washington wouldn’t comment specifically on the weaponry, but said its development work within the Spratly Islands—known by the Chinese as the Nansha Islands—was primarily civilian.

A couple of things.

Chinese diplomats speak carefully, but I haven't heard an outright lie yet. Did you catch the phrasing?  Primarily civilian!

Second, the US military can spin this anyway they want but it should be obvious to all.  Sooner or later we're going to see advanced radars and anti-aircraft/ship missiles on these islands.

Yep.  I'm gonna say it again.  We're gearing up for the COIN fight and they're gearing up for full scale warfare.

I'm still waiting for an answer (they stopped talking to me) but will someone tell me how the notional Company Landing Team will stand up to the firepower of a mechanized brigade?