BEIJING, China (Reuters) — Reports that China has deployed an advanced surface-to-air missile system to one of the disputed islands it controls in the South China Sea have been created by certain Western media, the country’s foreign minister said on Wednesday (February 17).
“This is something that we were just being told several minutes ago that there are reports like that. And we believe that this is an attempt by certain Western media to create news stories,” Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said, during a news conference with his Australian counterpart.
Wang also told reporters he hoped Western media would pay more attention to the lighthouses China was building in the region.
“I hope that media everywhere, including those in Western countries and Australia, will turn your attention to the lighthouses that we have built on some of the islands that we are using in South China Sea, which are in operation now and they have been very useful in ensuring the safety of the passing ships in those waters. And you can also pay more attention to the meteorological forecast facilities and the facilities that we are planning to build for providing shelter, for providing assistance and rescue and emergency response to the fishing boats in those waters. Because I think all of those are actions China, as the biggest state in the South China Sea, has undertaken to provide more public goods and services to the international community and play its positive role there,” he said.
Taiwan and U.S. officials told Reuters and other media outlets on Wednesday that China had deployed the missile system on Woody Island, which is also claimed by Taiwan and Vietnam.
Wang said China was abiding by international law.
“As for the limited and necessary self-defence facilities that China has built on the islands and reefs stationed by Chinese personnel, this is consistent to self-preservation and self-protection that China is entitled to under international law. So there should be no question about that,” Wang said.
At the same news conference, Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop, who is visiting China, urged restraint in the region and called on all sides to settle disputes peacefully, adding that Australia did not take sides on South China Sea claims.
“We had a very forthright and candid discussion about South China Sea. Australia’s position both privately and publicly is consistent: we do not take sides on the competing maritime territorial claims in the South China Sea. We have an interest in maintaining peace and stability in the South China Sea. As does China and other claimants we urge restraints, and we urge all parties settle their differences peacefully,” Bishop said.
China claims most of the South China Sea, through which more than $5 trillion in global trade passes every year, and has been building runways and other infrastructure on artificial islands to bolster its claims.