News / China

Beijing warns US, outsiders not to amplify old disputes in South China Sea

Wednesday, 31 July 2019 3:12 PM [ Last Update: Wednesday, 31 July 2019 3:12 PM ]

This photo taken on April 21, 2017 shows Chinese boats anchored near Subi reef, as seen from Thitu Island. (Photo by AFP)

Beijing has warned the United States and other non-Asian countries not to amplify disputes in the South China Sea.

After meeting counterparts in the Thai capital Bangkok, Chinese Foreign Minister and State Councilor Wang Yi announced on Wednesday that China and the member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) have made progress on an eventual Code of Conduct in the South China Sea.

"This cherishable achievement … demonstrates the conviction of regional countries to jointly set rules in the region and safeguard peace and stability in the South China Sea together," he added.

China’s top diplomat, who is scheduled to meet US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo in Bangkok, also reiterated that his country opposes interference by countries outside the region.

PressTV-China warns off US warships in disputed sea

Beijing says its navy warned off two US navy ships that violated Chinese sovereignty by sailing close to the disputed islands in the South China Sea.

Answering a question on the involvement of the US and other non-Asian countries in the discussions, Wang said, "We think non-regional countries should not deliberately amplify such differences or disputes left from the past."

"Non-regional countries should also not make use of these differences to sow distrust between China and ASEAN countries," he added.

Beijing has recently condemned as "slanderous" the US criticism of its role in the South China Sea, including remarks made by Pompeo.

The US State Department has expressed concern about reports of alleged Chinese obstruction of oil and gas activities in the South China Sea, pointing to remarks by Pompeo who earlier in the year accused China of “blocking development in the South China Sea through coercive means,” and alleged that Beijing “prevents ASEAN members from accessing more than $2.5 trillion in recoverable energy reserves.”

PressTV-China condemns US ‘freedom of navigation’ patrols

China condemns the recent sailing of a US warship near territory that it claims in the South China Sea.

China claims nearly the entire strategic South China Sea with Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan and Vietnam pushing competing claims to parts of the maritime region.

Wang also said that Beijing is in discussions to expand and "institutionalize" joint military drills with ASEAN members in the region following two previous exercises.

The resource-rich South China Sea has long been a source of tension between Beijing and Washington, which regularly dispatches its warships and warplanes to the waters as part of what it describes as “freedom of navigation” patrols.

The US has been taking sides with several of China’s neighboring countries competing sovereignty claims to the strategic waters.

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