War of words: China rejects US criticism of sea reclamations

China on Sunday rejected US demands to stop its intensifying reclamation works in the South China Sea, saying it was exercising its sovereignty while helping the rest of the world. Admiral Sun Jianguo, deputy chief of the general staff department in the People’s Liberation Army, told a security summit in Singapore that “the situation in the South China Sea is on the whole peaceful and stable, and there has never been an issue with the freedom of navigation.”

China has carried out construction on some islands and reefs in the South China Sea mainly for the purpose of improving the functions of the relevant islands and reefs, and the working and living conditions of personnel stationed there.

Admiral Sun Jianguo, deputy chief of the general staff department in the People’s Liberation Army

Sun was speaking one day after US Defense Secretary Ashton Carter demanded an immediate end to China’s reclamation works and said Beijing was “out of step” with international norms with its behaviour in disputed waters. One senior defense official has said the U.S. is considering more military flights and patrols closer to the projects in the South China Sea, to emphasize reclaimed lands are not China’s territorial waters. Officials also are looking at ways to adjust the military exercises in the region to increase U.S. presence if needed.

Politics South China