THE reclamation activities of China in Panganiban (Mischief) Reef, an area within the Philippines鈥� exclusive economic zone in the disputed West Philippine Sea (South China Sea), has progressed in a few months, latest satellite images showed.
The United States on Friday swiftly rejected a suggestion by a top Chinese military official who said that disputed South China Sea islands could be used for international rescue and relief operations.
Beijing has been roundly criticized by the West for construction work on islands in the South China Sea, including the building of an airstrip and other structures.
The Wall Street Journal and other US news organizations, citing a report on the Chinese Defense Ministry website, said Admiral Wu Shengli made the offer to his US counterpart, Admiral Jonathan Greenert, in a video conference.
Wu said China鈥檚 reclamation work on the disputed islands 鈥渨ill not threaten freedom of navigation and overflight鈥� and will enhance the capacity for weather forecasting, maritime search and rescue and other public goods, and help to protect international maritime security, The Journal said, quoting the Chinese defense ministry report.
鈥淲e welcome international organizations, the US and relevant countries to use these facilities, when conditions are ripe, to conduct cooperation on humanitarian rescue and disaster relief,鈥� the Chinese admiral was quoted as saying.
State Department acting deputy spokesman Jeff Rathke said Washington was not interested.
鈥淏uilding facilities on reclaimed land in disputed areas will not contribute to peace and stability in the region,鈥� Rathke told reporters.
鈥淭his is true even if, as some Chinese officials have stated, the facilities in question were used for civilian disaster response purposes.鈥�
He added: 鈥淚f there is a desire to reduce tensions, China could actively reduce them by taking concrete steps to halt land reclamation.鈥�
Beijing should 鈥渨ork with existing multilateral mechanisms for humanitarian and disaster relief,鈥� such as one under the umbrella of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
ASEAN issued a statement Monday at the close of a summit in Malaysia expressing 鈥渟erious concerns鈥� over China鈥檚 land reclamation on reefs whose sovereignty is contested.
Beijing insists it has sovereignty over almost all of the South China Sea, parts of which are claimed by several other Asian nations.
The construction work has triggered fears of tightening Chinese control over the seaway.