BEIJING: Beijing yessterday dismissed as “irresponsible” US criticism of its construction of an artificial island reportedly large enough for an airstrip in a disputed section of the South China Sea.
The statement by China’s foreign ministry came after a US military spokesman urged Beijing to stop what it described as a vast land reclamation project on the Spratly Islands.
The island chain, which the Chinese call Nansha, is also claimed in whole or part by the Philippines, Malaysia, Vietnam, Taiwan and Brunei.
“External forces have no right to make irresponsible remarks,” foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said at a regular briefing when asked about Washington’s comments.
“The construction activities China is undertaking are for the improvement of the working and living conditions of the island-stationed personnel, so that they can better fulfil their international obligations and responsibilities in search and rescue,” she added.
A report last week by IHS Jane’s Defence revealed new details of a land reclamation project China is undertaking on Fiery Cross Reef, known as Yongshu in Chinese.
Beijing claims nearly all of the resource-rich South China Sea, while Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan and Vietnam have their own claims, several of them also building structures on reefs or occupying islands.
According to the Defence report the artificial island is 3,000 metres long and 200-300 metres wide, one of several reclamation projects being pursued by China in the region but apparently the first that could accommodate an airstrip.
A harbour has been dug out on the east side of the reef that appears large enough for tankers and naval warships, it said.
The report said the project could be China’s first military airstrip in the Spratly Islands and might be aimed at helping Beijing impose its sovereignty claims over neighbouring countries that also claim the territory.
“This facility appears purpose-built to coerce other claimants into relinquishing their claims and possessions, or at least provide China with a much stronger negotiating position if talks over the dispute were ever held,” the report said.
Days after the report, US military spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Jeffrey Pool called on China and other governments to cease such construction.
Hua told a regular news briefing on Monday that no country has “a right to make irresponsible remarks” about the reclamation.
She said China has “indisputable sovereignty” over the Spratly Islands, which are also claimed by Taiwan, Malaysia, the Philippines, Vietnam and Brunei.
Hua said China has insisted that maritime disputes be resolved peacefully and through negotiations.
Outspoken People’s Liberation Army Major General Luo Yuan also defended the project, which he called “completely legitimate and justifiable” in an interview with the state-run Global Times newspaper. “The US is obviously biased considering that the Philippines, Malaysia, Vietnam have already set up military facilities,” Luo was quoted as saying.
In a separate editorial the newspaper contended that China was building on the reef “mainly to improve the living standards of the reef-stationed soldiers”.
“China’s construction on the Yongshu Reef will not be affected by US words,” the paper wrote.
It added: “The Yongshu Reef is becoming a big island, which shows China’s prominent construction capabilities.”
Tensions have been rising as Beijing has grown more assertive about its claim over the resource-rich South China Sea, which is also crisscrossed by shipping routes.
Agencies
