Beijing lashes out at US South China Sea proposal
12 Aug 2014 12:43 AM GMT
Beijing accused the US of deliberately stoking tensions in the South China Sea as it rejected Washington’s proposal for a freeze on provocative actions in the region, the foreign ministry said Monday.
The remarks by Foreign Minister Wang Yi came at an ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) overshadowed by disputes over the strategically significant sea.
Beijing claims it almost in its entirety, putting it at odds with countries including the Philippines and Vietnam, and there have been several tense encounters in the area over recent months. US Secretary of State John Kerry appeared at the forum to push for a multilateral agreement to end all actions that risk further inflaming regional sensitivities.
But Wang said: ‘Some countries outside the region are restless, and stir up tensions... might their intention be to create chaos in the region?
‘China and ASEAN are totally able to safeguard well the peace and stability of South China Sea.’
His comments, posted on the foreign ministry’s website on Monday, were aimed squarely at the US, state-run media said.
The remarks by Foreign Minister Wang Yi came at an ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) overshadowed by disputes over the strategically significant sea.
Beijing claims it almost in its entirety, putting it at odds with countries including the Philippines and Vietnam, and there have been several tense encounters in the area over recent months. US Secretary of State John Kerry appeared at the forum to push for a multilateral agreement to end all actions that risk further inflaming regional sensitivities.
But Wang said: ‘Some countries outside the region are restless, and stir up tensions... might their intention be to create chaos in the region?
‘China and ASEAN are totally able to safeguard well the peace and stability of South China Sea.’
His comments, posted on the foreign ministry’s website on Monday, were aimed squarely at the US, state-run media said.
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