China ignores US plea
Top official says reclamation works ‘peaceful and stable’
SHANGHAI: China yesterday rejected US demands to stop its reclamation works in the South China Sea, saying it was exercising its sovereignty while helping the rest of the world.
Admiral Sun Jianguo, deputy chief of the general staff department in the People’s Liberation Army, told a security summit in Singapore: “The situation in the South China Sea is on the whole peaceful and stable, and there has never been an issue with the freedom of navigation. “China has carried out construction on some islands and reefs in the South China Sea mainly for the purpose of improving the functions of the relevant islands and reefs, and the working and living conditions of personnel stationed there.
“Apart from meeting the necessary defence needs, it is more geared to better perform China’s international responsibilities and obligations regarding maritime search and rescue, disaster prevention and relief, maritime scientific research, meteorological observation, environmental protection, safety of navigation and fishery production services,” he added.
China insists it has sovereignty over nearly all of the South China Sea, a major global shipping route believed to be home to oil and gas reserves.
“When dealing with maritime disputes with relevant neighbouring countries, China has always kept in mind the larger interest of maritime security,” Sun told the annual Shangri-La Dialogue.
“In spite of the sufficient historical and legal evidence and its indisputable claims, rights and interests, China has exercised enormous restraint, making positive contributions to peace and stability of the region and the world at large.”
Admiral Sun was speaking a day after the US Defence Secretary Ashton Carter demanded an immediate end to China’s reclamation works and said that Beijing was “out of step” with international norms with its behaviour in disputed waters.
“First, we want a peaceful resolution of all disputes. To that end, there should be an immediate and lasting halt to land reclamation by all claimants,” Mr Carter said on Saturday at the same forum with Admiral Sun and his delegation in the audience.
“We also oppose any further militarisation of disputed features,” he said.