US claims over South China Sea rejected
Print Edition
China has rejected US allegations that it is using vague territorial claims to gradually assert control in the South China Sea, and in turn accused Washington of exaggerating tensions in the region.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei reiterated China’s position that its claims are based on history and international law.
Hong said some US officials’ remarks were not constructive, and “playing up tensions” was not conducive to maintaining peace and stability.
Last Wednesday, US Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs Danny Russel said the United States had “growing concerns” that China’s maritime claims were an effort to gain “creeping control” of oceans in the region.
Russel suggested China’s territorial claims in the South China Sea did not comply with international law and should be clarified or adjusted.
China, the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia and Brunei all claim parts of the sea that provides 10 percent of global fish catches and carries US$5 trillion in ship-borne trade.
Russel said an agreement between China and Southeast Asia’s regional bloc on a “code of conduct” to regulate behavior in the South China Sea was long overdue.
Hong said China was committed to resolving disputes with directly concerned parties and attached great importance to implementing a code of conduct with members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.
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