China tells USA to stay away from South China Sea dispute: Chinese media reports
Shares
BEIJING: China said to US President Barack Obama not to get involved in disputes in the South China Sea, after he demanded an end to artificial island building in the hotly contested region. "The United States should stop playing up the South China Sea issue, stop heightening tensions in the South China Sea and stop complicating disputes in the South China Sea," Hong Lei, a foreign ministry spokesman, said at a regular press briefing in Beijing. "No country has the right to point fingers at" China's construction activities, he added. We discussed the impact of China's land reclamation and construction activities on regional stability," Obama told reporters after meeting. "We agree on the need for bold steps to lower tensions, including pledging to halt further reclamation, new construction, and militarisation of disputed areas in the South China Sea." APEC members 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. China claims nearly all of the South China Sea, even waters approaching the coasts of its Asian neighbours; Times of India quoted.
