Singapore — China rejected yesterday US demands to stop its intensifying reclamation works in the South China Sea, saying it was exercising its sovereignty while helping the rest of the world.
Admiral Sun Jianguo, deputy chief of the general staff department in the People’s Liberation Army, told a security summit in Singapore that “the situation in the South China Sea is on the whole peaceful and stable, and there has never been an issue with the freedom of navigation.”
ROUTINE PORT CALL – The USS Shiloh has dropped anchor at the Alava Pier in Subic Bay as part of a routine port call that will allow the ship to replenish supplies and strengthen people-to-people ties through community outreach. There are 31 Filipino-Americans in the vessel’s 360 crew members. Commissioned on July 18, 1992, USS Shiloh is a Ticonderoga-class guided missile cruiser and multi-role warship that can handle threats in the air, on sea, or ashore. (Jonas Reyes)
“China has carried out construction on some islands and reefs in the South China Sea mainly for the purpose of improving the functions of the relevant islands and reefs, and the working and living conditions of personnel stationed there.
“Apart from meeting the necessary defence needs, it is more geared to better perform China’s international responsibilities and obligations regarding maritime search and rescue, disaster prevention and relief, maritime scientific research, meteorological observation, environmental protection, safety of navigation, fishery production, services,” he added.
China insists it has sovereignty over nearly all of the South China Sea, a major global shipping route believed to be home to oil and gas reserves, but rival claimants accuse it of expansionism.
MANILA BULLETIN
