In recent years, such summits in Asia have largely been about economic issues like free trade zones and trade partnerships, as well as the conflict in the South China Sea.
Advertisement
During Tuesday’s press conference, Liu defended China’s construction on the Nansha islands, saying it is a “completely lawful, reasonable and sensible” process that will improve the living conditions of personnel in China’s own territory and provide more public good for countries in the region as well as the worldwide community.
APEC members the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan have rival claims to parts of the sea, which is believed to sit atop vast oil and gas resources.
U.S. President Barack Obama arrived in Manila Monday to attend the APEC summit.
The U.S. Navy in October sent a ship within 12 nautical miles of a Chinese-occupied island in the South China Sea to advertise that Washington did not recognize China’s exclusive claim to the area.
THE Philippines and Vietnam signed an agreement to boost economic, defense and agricultural ties amid maritime disputes over islands in the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea).
China has shown “great restraint” in the South China Sea by not seizing islands occupied by other countries even though it could have, a senior Chinese diplomat said on Tuesday as US President Barack Obama put tensions over Beijing’s claims to the disputed waters squarely on the agenda ahead of an Asia-Pacific summit, pointedly visiting the main warship of close ally the Philippines shortly after he landed in Manila.
“We must be prepared for a few level of tension”, short of war, Green said, adding that military-to-military relations between China and the United States are improving.
Mr Obama said he discussed the impact of China’s land reclamation and building activities on the disputed Spratly Islands with President Aquino of the Philippines.
“They (China) would generally attempt to block it at every similar kind of meeting – whether it’s of defense officials, foreign ministers or heads of state. So I would expect the same kind of dynamic to be taking place, mostly behind closed doors, at this upcoming meeting”.
Earlier, President Aquino said that the Philippines supports the U.S. Military “pivot” to East Asia and his government desires to make its bases available to US forces in the region. China reacted angrily to the flights.
China wants control of the South China Sea but its smaller neighbors keep throwing up resistance.
Advertisement
They also asked the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to urgently complete legal procedures to sue China in the worldwide court and to be more careful in the foreign policy, and to restrict compromise to ensure territorial integrity, national security, and national sovereignty. Christopher Jones-Cruise adapted it for Learning English. Write to us in the Comments Section, or visit our Facebook page.
