South China Sea tensions flare at Asia security talks
KUALA LUMPUR— China was on a diplomatic collision course with some of its neighbors and the United States over its controversial islandbuilding, as regional security talks opened Tuesday in Kuala Lumpur.
Beijing is expanding tiny reefs in the flashpoint South China Sea into islands and topping some with military posts to reinforce its claims over the strategic waters, fanning fears of a conflict.
Ahead of the gathering hosted by the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) that kicked off on Tuesday in Malaysia, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi signaled no compromise.
During a stop in Singapore on Monday, Wang insisted that the issue should not be raised at the talks, and that China would press ahead with its controversial land-reclamation works.
"China has never believed that multilateral fora are the appropriate place for discussing specific bilateral disputes," Wang told reporters before travelling to Malaysia.
Attempts to bring the issue up are "counter-productive" and "heighten confrontation", he warned.
However US and Southeast Asian officials say the hot-button issue will be raised in Malaysia this week.
In his opening remarks Tuesday, Malaysian Foreign Minister Anifah Aman took a swipe at Beijing's refusal to address the thorny issue with its neighbors at the talks.
"ASEAN can and should play a vital part in effecting an amicable settlement" on the South China Sea, he told fellow foreign ministers.
"Above all we must be seen to address this issue peacefully and cooperatively. We have made a positive start but we need to do more."