Asean warns sea reclamation 'may undermine peace'
Reclamation work in the disputed South China Sea, where China has constructed an airstrip and other structures on coral reefs, threaten to "undermine peace, security and stability" in the region, Southeast Asian leaders warned Monday. Beijing's assert
A statement to be issued at the close of the one-day summit in Malaysia notes "serious concerns" over land reclamation on reefs whose sovereignty is contested. The work has triggered fears of tightening Chinese control over the seaway.
"We share the serious concerns expressed by some leaders on the land reclamation being undertaken in the South China Sea, which has eroded trust and confidence and may undermine peace, security and stability," said the statement by summit chair Malaysia, seen by AFP, which did not mention China by name.
Along with Taiwan, Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) member-states Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia and Brunei claim parts of the sea, which is rich in energy reserves and fishery resources, and is a vital conduit for much of world trade.
Satellite photos released earlier this month provided fresh evidence of the scale of the Chinese programme, depicting a flotilla of vessels dredging sand onto a feature known as Mischief Reef in the Spratly Islands.
RELATED