China ‘won’t cease’ building on disputed isles, challenges US

KUALA LUMPUR: China said on Sunday it will continue to build military and civilian facilities on its artificial islands in the disputed South China Sea and the United States was testing it by sending warships through the area.

“Building and maintaining necessary military facilities, this is what is required for China’s national defence and for the protection of those islands and reefs,” vice-foreign minister Liu Zhenmin told a news conference in Kuala Lumpur.

China planned to “expand and upgrade” the civilian facilities on the islands “to better serve commercial ships, fishermen, to help distressed vessels and provide more public services”, Liu said, adding that China rejects the notion that it is militarising the South China Sea. He said China has mostly built civilian facilities.

Liu’s comments at the annual East Asia Summit, this year hosted by Kuala Lumpur, were some of the most forceful explanations that China has given regarding its position on the South China Sea.

Washington was testing Beijing with its insistence on “freedom of navigation” patrols in the strategic waterway, he said.

Earlier this month, US B-52 bombers flew near some of the islands, signalling Washington’s determination to challenge Beijing’s claim. At the end of October, the USS Lassen, a guidedmissile destroyer, sailed around one of them.

“This time, in a very high profile manner, the US sent military vessels within 12 nautical miles of China’s islands and reefs. This has gone beyond the scope of freedom of navigation. It is a political provocation and the purpose is to test China’s response,” Liu said.

This time...the US sent military vessels within 12 nautical miles of China’s islands and reefs. This has gone beyond the scope of freedom of navigation. It is a political provocation...

LIU ZHENMIN,

Chinese vice-foreign minister