South China Sea tensions flare at Asia security talks

KUALA LUMPUR // China’s controversial land reclamation and territorial claims in the South China Sea took centre stage at a regional security conference on Tuesday, despite Beijing’s insistence that the issue should be taken up bilaterally.

The United States and some South East Asian states have watched with growing alarm as Beijing expands tiny reefs in the South China Sea, topping some with military posts to reinforce its disputed claims over the strategic waters and fanning fears of future conflict.

“As we speak, we see no let-up on the unilateral and aggressive activities of our northern neighbour in the South China Sea,” Philippine foreign secretary Albert del Rosario told the annual security forum hosted by the 10-member Association of South East Asian Nations (Asean).

He also hit out at what he described as “massive reclamation activities” and construction by Beijing in the disputed sea which had “undermined peace, security and stability”.

Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi said on Monday that such gatherings are not “the appropriate place for discussing specific bilateral disputes,” and that doing so would “heighten confrontation”.

He reiterated China’s position that it would not bow to pressure on its land reclamation.

But despite Beijing’s protestations, Malaysia’s foreign minister said that the South China Sea disputes were “discussed extensively” at the Asean Regional Forum on Tuesday, the first day of the conference.

“We also discussed ways to address erosion of trust and confidence amongst parties following recent developments in the South China Sea, including land reclamation, as well as escalation of tension on the ground,” said Anifah Aman.

Beijing claims control over nearly all of the 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.

Beijing insists that disputes must be handled on a bilateral basis between rival claimants. Diplomats and analysts say that this stance is aimed at preventing Asean from presenting a more united front.

But delegates say that China will not be able to escape the issue during this week’s conference in Kuala Lumpur, the capital of Malaysia.

“This is not Cambodia or Laos,” said one diplomat attending the talks, referring to a 2012 foreign ministers’ meeting in which host Cambodia – China’s ally – was accused of preventing discussion of it.

Adding to the tensions, a Washington-based think tank said this week that Beijing could be preparing to build a second airstrip on an artificial island.

China is already building a 3,000-metre runway on Fiery Cross reef, which could ultimately be used for combat operations, according to the Center for Strategic and International Studies.

But Chinese foreign minister Wang rejected calls by some rival claimants and the United States to suspend the land reclamation.

“The freeze proposal may seem even-handed on the surface but it is actually unrealistic and will not work in practice,” he said.

US secretary of state John Kerry, who landed in Kuala Lumpur on Tuesday afternoon after a brief stopover in Singapore, is to meet Mr Wang on Wednesday morning on the sidelines of the forum.

* Agence France-Presse