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G7 leaders agree on sending strong message on South China Sea

It has said the South China Sea issue has nothing to do with G7 or its members.

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He said the Aquino administration’s stand had gained support from the global community. “The situation points to the fact that freedom of navigation is never threatened in the South China Sea and therefore not a problem”, Xinhua reported.

Outsiders should respect efforts of countries in this region to maintain regional peace and stability.

And he said the root cause of disputes is the illegal occupation of islands and reefs by the Philippines and other countries since the 1970s.

“We’re not taking a position on those claims”.

Soon after Yang made the statement, Pentagon said the intercept of a us military aircraft violated the agreement.

Over the past few years, China’s actions in the South China Sea have thrust it into the worldwide limelight. It said the US plane was conducting routine operations in worldwide airspace.

It characterized the incident as an unsafe intercept and said it is being reviewed.

Defense Department spokesman Peter Cook on Thursday disputed Chinese officials who rejected USA claims that its fighter jets maneuvered unsafely.

State Department spokesman John Kirby said there were plenty of ways for the USA and Chinese militaries to communicate.

China’s increasingly assertive military posture in the South China Sea, a strategic shipping corridor that is also rich in fish and natural gas, has rattled the United States and its allies in Southeast Asia. China says it is entitled to keep watch over such airspace and seas.

Beijing summoned top diplomatic representatives from the Group of Seven nations including France and Britain in April to express anger at a joint statement on the South China Sea.

“The US spy plane flew close to the airspace of China’s Hainan Island for espionage”.

China warned the G7 that it should not meddle with the South China Sea issue and suggested that the group should focus on itself and “not poke its nose into other countries or matters beyond its remit”.

China is capable and confident of working with the countries directly involved to solve territorial disputes through peaceful negotiations.

Hua Chunying was responding to US President Barack Obama’s remarks about maritime disputes in the South China Sea.

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Tension between the Philippines and China has risen as an worldwide tribunal in the Hague prepares to deliver a ruling in the next few months in a case lodged by Manila in 2013.

Chinese State Media Warns G7 Against South China Sea'Meddling