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 China's reclamation work in the South China Sea has become the
latest source of tension with some of its smaller neighbors, several
of whom have competing territorial claims in the waters.
The 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) said
after a summit this week in Kuala Lumpur that reclamation work had
"eroded trust and confidence and may undermine peace, security and
stability in the South China Sea".
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei said that China was
"extremely concerned" that the closing statement addressed the South
China Sea issue, which he said was not a problem between China and
ASEAN.
"On this issue China has exercised extreme restraint," he said,
repeating that China believed the dispute should be resolved via
direct talks between the claimants.
There were no problems with freedom of navigation in the waters,
Hong told a daily news briefing.
 In a speech to ASEAN heads on state on Monday, Philippine president
Benigno Aquino said the "massive reclamations" by China posed a
threat to the security and stability of the region.
Diplomatic sources told Reuters that Vietnam and Indonesia had also
raised concerns behind closed doors, pushing host Malaysia, which
had been reluctant to antagonize China, to address the issue in the
closing statement.
Hong said that China had a right to build on islands in the South
China Sea.
"China resolutely opposes individual countries making insinuations
about China for their own selfish interests and taking hostage the
China-ASEAN relationship," he added.
Hong also rejected allegations from Philippine fishery officials
that the reclamation work threatens fish production due to coral
reef damage.
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"China pays more attention to the environment than anyone else when
it comes to construction on our islands," he said.
China claims 90 percent of the South China Sea, which is believed to
be rich in oil and gas, with overlapping claims from Brunei,
Malaysia, the Philippines, Vietnam and Taiwan.
Recent satellite images show China has made rapid progress in
building an airstrip suitable for military use in the Spratly
Islands and may be planning another.
While many of the claimants have built facilities such as airstrips
on some of the islets and shoals they occupy, China's efforts have
been by far the most extensive and dramatic.
Disputes over how to address an increasingly assertive role of China
- an ally of several ASEAN states - in the strategic waters of the
South China Sea has placed the issue squarely as Southeast Asia's
biggest potential military flashpoint.
(Reporting by Ben Blanchard; Editing by Alex Richardson)
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