MAY 22 (Reuters) — China’s foreign ministry on Thursday (May 21) rebuked comments from a U.S. official that its South China Sea claims are “stoking instability”.
U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Antony Blinken said during a news conference in Jakarta on Wednesday (May 20) that China’s land reclamation around reefs in the disputed South China Sea is undermining freedom and stability, and risks provoking tension that could even lead to conflict.
Asked about Blinken’s remarks, China’s Foreign Ministry demanded on Thursday that the United States abide by the principle of not taking sides on the South China Sea, and said his comments damaged trust in the region.
“Comments of this sort are not good for the solving of tensions and are not beneficial for the mutual trust between countries as well as maintaining the peace and the stability of the South China Sea region. It will only encourage individual countries to constantly take provocative actions. We call upon the U.S. side to strictly abide by the principle of not taking sides in the South China Sea,” foreign ministry spokesman Hong Lei told a regular briefing.
China claims 90 percent of the South China Sea, which is believed to be rich in oil and gas, its claims overlapping with those of Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, Vietnam and Taiwan.
Recent satellite images suggest China has made rapid progress in filling in land in contested territory in the Spratly islands and in building an airstrip suitable for military use and that it may be planning another.
On Wednesday the Chinese navy warned a U.S. surveillance plane flying over artificial islands that Beijing is creating to leave the area eight times, according to CNN, which was on board the flight.
The incident, along with recent Chinese warnings to Philippine military aircraft to leave areas around the Spratly archipelago in the South China Sea, suggests Beijing is trying to enforce a military exclusion zone above its new islands.
Hong said he was not aware of the incident.
“I am not aware of the specific fly over situation. But what I want to point out is that China has indisputable sovereignty over the islands in the South China Sea and nearby waters. China has the right to engage in monitoring in the relevant airspace and waters to protect the country’s sovereignty and prevent accidents at sea. We hope the relevant country can earnestly respect China’s sovereignty in the South China Sea,” he said.
Footage taken by the P8-A Poseidon and aired by CNN showed a hive of construction and dredging activity on the new islands the plane flew over, as well as Chinese navy ships nearby.
CNN said it was the first time the Pentagon had declassified video of China’s building activity and audio of challenges to a U.S. aircraft.
Military facilities on Fiery Cross Reef, including a 3,000-metre (10,000-foot) runway, could be operational by year’s end, one U.S. commander recently told Reuters.
China has also said it had every right to set up an Air Defence Identification Zone (ADIZ) in the South China Sea but that current conditions did not warrant one.
ADIZs are used by some nations to extend control beyond national borders, requiring civilian and military aircraft to identify themselves or face possible military interception.
During the P8-A mission, the pilot of a Delta Air Line flight in the area spoke on the same frequency after hearing the Chinese challenges, and identified himself as commercial. The Chinese voice reassured the pilot and the Delta flight went on its way, CNN said. (Beijing, China)