Proportional to gpd and capability more apt comparison. PRC has greater gdp and infra capability than everyone else combined, so should not be surprising that P

Proportional to gpd and capability more apt comparison. PRC has greater gdp and infra capability than everyone else combined, so should not be surprising that PRC can do more with comparable less percent of GDP dedicated. China Communications Construction Company (CCCC) dredging group responsible for much of island building is also industry leader in reclaimation. The TLDR is there was a SCS arms race and PRC responding at PRC scale is going to naturally dwarf everyone else. Note ongoing anxiety with Chinese military build up is over PRC spending sub ~2% on defense - what US expects NATO to contribute. PRC isn't being excessive, she's simply massive and more efficient relative to everyone else.