The latest comments were made by China’s Vice Foreign Minister Liu Zhenmin at a press briefing on the sidelines of the 27th ASEAN Summit and Related Summits in Malaysia.
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Deputy Foreign Minister Liu was particularly critical of the US’s recent deployment of naval ships to the South China Sea.
China has pushed back on US objections and said that while it is building “military installations”, the facilities are to protect civilians.
China came under renewed criticism over its rising profile in the South China Sea at Asia-Pacific summit when Philippines President Benigno Aquino III warned China that “the world is watching” you, reports Reuters. “China must guarantee the right of free navigation and flight”.
Beijing claims control over most of the South China Sea, which includes most of the sea routes supplying China with energy resources, along with a number of island rich in natural resources.
President Park Geun-hye called on China Sunday to peacefully cooperate with neighboring countries in resolving territorial disputes in the South China Sea, noting during the annual East Asia Summit (EAS) that the issue is of “grave concern” to Seoul’s global trading. To send its message, Washington recently sent the guided missile destroyer USS Lassen to sail through waters within 12 nautical miles of Subi Reef, originally a feature that was submerged at high tide but has been reclaimed into a bigger island.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak put in perspective that when it comes to freedom of navigation and overflight, all countries agreed that there should not be any interference and that there should be respect. That is all well and good, but now comes the first serious test of their political unity.
The heightened clashes between Beijing and Washington over South China Sea have created the threat not just politically but also from the trade perspective.
On the other hand, Admiral Swift said the US Navy does not want this to become an issue that affects bilateral ties and expressed the hope that the two navies can keep the high-level exchanges and conduct more joint exercises.
Obama told a news conference at the end of the summit the United States and its allies would not relent in the fight to combat Islamic State extremists and would hunt down their leaders and cut off the group’s financing.
Addressing the East Asia Summit on November 20, Obama was quoted as saying: “Destroying [Islamic State] is not only a realistic goal, we’re going to get it done. Through discussion and engagement, we should be able to work them out in order that they can translate into practical consequences on the ground”, he said.
Mr Ban “highly commended the leadership of the Russian Federation, together with the United States to address some of the root causes of terrorism”.
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The United Nations was gathering ideas and experience from member states.
