Obama urges halt to artificial islands in S.China Sea

Obama commented after a one-on-one meeting Sunday with Singapore’s Prime Minister, Lee Hsien Loong (lee shyehn loong), in Malaysia during a summit of Asian nations.

The other major talking point is expected to be the South China Sea. The facilities include runways and military outposts.

“If the United States carries out repeated provocations despite China’s opposition we have the ability to defend our national sovereignty and security”.

Deputy Foreign Minister Liu Zhenmin reiterated China’s position that its construction of artificial islands in the sea was created to “provide public service” to the region by helping ships and fishermen and disaster relief efforts. Stressing that China firmly pursues a defence policy that is defensive in nature, Hong said China opposes any country launching military operations that undermine regional safety, stability and mutual trust. “Is that a trend of militarization?”

The maritime issue has become the stage for a big-power confrontation between China and the United States, which warns that Beijing’s actions could threaten freedom of navigation. This has caused ripples of alarm in much of East Asia about China’s intentions and freedom of navigation in a waterway through which $5 trillion in ship-borne trade passes annually. “China”™s claim to more than 80 percent of the waters clashes with Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan.

China’s assertion is wide of the mark. [Now they say] it is open to all.

Signed in 2002 by China and 11 members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, the agreement promises to “enhance favorable conditions for a peaceful and durable solution of differences and disputes among countries concerned”.

“We hope that would be the case”.

Beijing has in recent years rapidly built artificial islands, which neighbours fear will be used as military outposts.

China will buy more Malaysian government bonds and give the country a 50 billion yuan (S$11.1 billion) quota to invest in Chinese stocks and bonds as it looks to strengthen ties with Southeast Asia. “China is pushing its hold not just because it wants the islands but because it wants to demonstrate it can get them against America’s opposition”.

Aquino said that more countries are now vocal about the dispute compared to when he first attended ASEAN meetings in 2010.

In a communique after the talks in Sydney, Japan and Australia called on “all claimants to halt large-scale land reclamation, construction, and use for military purposes” in the South China Sea.

At a separate news conference, Obama said the issue was a “key topic” at the summit of 18 countries that included China, as well as at a separate summit he had with leaders of 10 Southeast Asian countries.