China ‘held back on right to seize’ occupied islands in South China Sea
Ahead of regional summits this weekend, Beijing says it could have reclaimed territory but didnt
China could have reclaimed South China Sea islands occupied by other claimants but has exercised “great restraint” by not doing so, a senior Chinese diplomat said yesterday, ahead of regional summits in Kuala Lumpur this weekend.
Southeast Asian leaders have for years used the series of annual summits involving the Association of Southeast Asian Nations to address the thorny territorial dispute but analysts said a rethink was needed as Asean’s position was becoming irrelevant.
China has been under intense criticism for building artificial islands – including three airfields – in the Spratlys, escalating tensions that have stirred the disputed waters for years. Beijing’s claims, which cover more than 80 per cent of the strategic waters, overlap with those of other claimants, including Vietnam, the Philippines and Malaysia.
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Vice-Foreign Minister Liu Zhenmin said yesterday that China had the “right and ability” to seize islands “illegally” occupied by other countries.
“But we didn’t do this. We have maintained great restraint with the aim to preserve peace and stability in the South China Sea,” Liu said in Beijing.
He did not name the countries, but all claimants except Brunei have military fortifications in the Spratlys.
China insists that its construction projects, including airstrips that can handle military aircraft, are for civilian purposes. But the United States, which is not a claimant, says the work is destabilising the region. To drive home the point, the US sent one of its warships within 12 nautical miles of the artificial islets last month.
