Kerry voices concern to China over island-building drive

Kerry raised the issues during a meeting with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on the sidelines of a regional diplomatic gathering in Malaysia that has been dominated by tensions over China’s moves to shore up its territorial claims.

“Secretary Kerry reiterated his concern about rising tensions over disputed claims in the South China Sea and China’s large-scale reclamation, construction, and <g data-gr-id="32">militarisation</g> of features there,” a senior State Department official told reporters.

“He encouraged China, along with the other claimants, to halt problematic actions in order to create space for diplomacy.” 

China has sparked alarm in the region by expanding tiny reefs in the flashpoint sea and constructing military posts on them.

The United States and Southeast Asian countries have called for a halt to such activities, but China has refused. A day earlier, Southeast Asian foreign ministers warned after they met in Kuala Lumpur that China’s moves were raising regional tensions, with the Philippines slamming Beijing’s “unilateral and aggressive activities”.

The annual gathering is hosted by the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations <g data-gr-id="36">(ASEAN),</g> and includes countries from across Asia, the United States, Russia and elsewhere. It continues until tomorrow.

Beijing claims control over nearly the entire South China Sea, a key shipping route thought to hold rich oil and gas reserves. Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia and Brunei - all ASEAN members - also have various claims, as does Taiwan, many of which overlap.

China’s neighbours have increasingly chafed at what is seen as mounting violations by Beijing of a regional pledge not to take actions that could stoke conflict.

Before their meeting, Kerry had said he and Wang were also to discuss a range of bilateral issues including plans for a September US visit by Chinese President Xi Jinping and China’s “great cooperation” on the recent Iran nuclear deal.

A US diplomat also said Kerry would meet with his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov later today to “discuss a range of issues of mutual concern”.

They last met in Doha on Monday alongside Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir, where the ongoing civil war in Syria topped the agenda.