Ten member states of Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), as well as dialogue partners including China, Russia and the United States, are taking part in a defense forum beginning Tuesday.
Earlier in the day, a number of Western media reported, citing a US delegation member, that the ceremony was delayed over US-Chinese South China Sea territory issues.
According to a defense ministry statement posted to its Weibo social network account, China had previously agreed with other states on the declaration's wording. Malaysia reportedly wanted the document to include a reference to China’s territorial claims in the region.
"However, several other countries outside of the region, despite the consensus, tried to forcefully enter in the text content unrelated to the topic of the ASEAN defense ministers meeting. In these conditions the forum was unable to publish the joint statement at the scheduled time, the countries outside of the region are completely responsible," the statement said.
China has been constructing artificial bases on top of Spratly Islands coral reef habitats over the past year. The archipelago encompasses over 750 islands and reefs. Beijing claims sovereignty over all of the Spratlys and a 12-nautical-mile zone surrounding the islands.
The United States has repeatedly warned it does not recognize Chinese claims of sovereignty over the islands, and raised concerns over Beijing’s activities in the region.
The situation became heated when China strongly criticized the United States after US naval destroyer USS Lassen sailed inside the 12-mile limit of the Spratly archipelago. Washington responded that the maneuver was not in violation of international law.
(Sputnik)
4/11/15
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Stop actions threatening China's sovereignty: China tells US...
ReplyDeleteAmid tensions over the South China Sea, China on Wednesday warned the US not to take "dangerous actions" that threaten its sovereignty and security interest, days after an American destroyer patrolled the disputed area.
Chinese defence minister General Chang Wanquan on Wednesday met his American counterpart Ashton Carter on the sidelines of ASEAN defence ministers' Meeting Plus to discuss steps to scale down tensions in the South China Sea (SCS).
He asked the US not to take further "dangerous actions" that threaten China's sovereignty and security interests..........http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/china/Stop-actions-threatening-Chinas-sovereignty-China-tells-US/articleshow/49662191.cms?
4/11/15