(BGF) – As the China Daily reported, China’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei said that freedom and safety of navigation had never been affected by the South China Sea disputes in response to the United States’ latest claim that China remains “aggressive” to vessels conducting oil and gas exploration in disputed waters in the South China Sea, and implied to the U.S that “non-claimant states” should do more things that are beneficial to regional peace and stability.
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Beijing ‘consistent’ on S. China Sea: FM
March 01, 2012 | By Cheng Guangjin
BEIJING – Freedom of navigation in the South China Sea “has never been a problem” and related countries should do more to protect peace and stability in the region, Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei said on Wednesday.
Hong made the remarks in response to the United States’ latest claim that China remains “aggressive” to vessels conducting oil and gas exploration in disputed waters in the South China Sea.
According to the Associated Press, Admiral Robert Willard, head of the US Pacific Command, said on Tuesday that the American military must be present in the South China Sea to ensure the security of the sea lanes crucial to international trade.
“In fact, freedom and safety of navigation in the South China Sea has never been a problem, and has never been affected by the South China Sea disputes. We hope relevant parties, including non-claimant states, do more things that are beneficial to regional peace and stability,” Hong said at a regular news conference.
China, the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia and Brunei all have claims over some islands and waters in the South China Sea, and the US has increased its presence in the Asia-Pacific region, claiming that it has a national interest in the peaceful resolution of disputes in the South China Sea.
Willard told the Senate Armed Services Committee that China was less confrontational in 2011 in asserting its claims in the South China Sea than it was in 2010, when tensions rose between it and other claimant states, according to the AP.
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