Obama says China must stop land reclamation in South China Sea

Obama, speaking after a meeting with Philippine President Benigno Aquino on the sidelines of an Asia-Pacific summit in Manila, said he looked forward to working with all claimants to the waterway to resolve their disputes. The waters of the South China Sea are among the busiest shipping lanes on the planet, with fully $5 trillion in commerce making its way through those waters each year.

“We acknowledged the policy differences between our two countries, but we have a responsibility as maritime commanders that friction points in policy don’t become friction points at sea”, the admiral said in an interview with reporters on the Stethem.

President Barack Obama talks with Captain Vince Sibala on the bridge of the BRP Gregorio del Pilar (PF-15), during a tour of the ship in Manila Harbor, Philippines, November 17, 2015.

China claims most of the South China Sea, and is locked in territorial rows with four ASEAN members – the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia and Brunei – that remain uneasy over the country’s massive and fast-paced land reclamation work in the disputed Spratly Islands.

Beijing denies those allegations, saying they are a pretext for the U.S. to flex its muscles as it “pivots” to the Asia Pacific.

China, however, has found another method: It’s been building artificial islands in the South China Sea, and then laying claim to the waters around these ersatz isles.

“More capable navies, in partnership with the United States, are critical to the security of this region”, Obama added.

Chinese President Xi Jinping has so far studiously avoided bringing up the dispute at the talks in Manila.

“We must focus on development and spare no effort to foster an environment of peace conducive to development and never allow anything to disrupt the development process”, he said.

But China was the real victim as it had had “dozens” of its islands and reefs in the Spratlys illegally occupied by three of the claimants, Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Liu Zhenmin told a news conference in Beijing.

With so many officials stating different opinions on the South China Sea issue, it is quite clear that the governments are no longer be on the same page which.

The panel’s annual reports are largely a litany of perceived threats from China, in keeping with its congressional mandate to report on the “national security implications” of U.S.-China trade and economic relations.

Obama endorsed a process of arbitration to settle the disputed claims and urged the Chinese to stop military build up on the islands, which, according to USA Today, will soon host lighthouses, ports, military facilities and airstrips.

The 2007 test demonstrated China’s ability “to strike satellites in low-Earth orbit, where the majority of the United States’ approximately 549 satellites reside, including about 30 military and intelligence satellites”, it said.