Head of Chinese delegation, Admiral Sun Jianguo (R), deputy chief of the general staff department in the People's Liberation Army, chats with Russian Deputy Minister of Defence Anatoly Antonov, in Singapore, on May 30, 2015© AFP Roslan RahmanHead of Chinese delegation, Admiral Sun Jianguo (R), deputy chief of the general staff department in the People's Liberation Army, chats with Russian Deputy Minister of Defence Anatoly Antonov, in Singapore, on May 30, 2015
Singapore (AFP) - China on Sunday rejected 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."
"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.
Sun was speaking one day after US Defense Secretary Ashton Carter demanded an immediate end to China's reclamation works and said Beijing was "out of step" with international norms with its behaviour in disputed waters.