SINGAPORE, June 2 -- Chinese State Councilor and Defense Minister Wei Fenghe said here on Sunday that China's construction on its South China Sea islands and reefs is its legitimate right and is purely defensive in nature.
"The current situation in the South China Sea is improving towards greater stability. It is attributed to the common efforts of the countries in the region," Wei said. "However, there are always people trying to rake in profits by stirring up troubles in the region."
He said over 100,000 ships sail through the South China Sea each year, and "none has been threatened."
However, in recent years, some countries outside the region come to the South China Sea to flex muscles, in the name of freedom of navigation. "The large-scale force projection and offensive operations in the region are the most serious destabilizing and uncertain factors in the South China Sea," he said.
If there is chaos in the South China Sea, the regional countries are the ones who will bear the brunt, and China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) countries have made progress in negotiating the Code of Conduct in the South China Sea, he added.
Wei noted that China's construction on its South China Sea islands and reefs is legitimate and defensive in nature. "It is the legitimate right of a sovereign state to carry out construction on its own territory. China built limited defense facilities on the islands and reefs for self-defense," he said.
"Where there are threats, there are defenses. In the face of heavily armed warships and military aircraft, how can we stay impervious and not build some defense facilities?" he asked.
He also refuted the saying of "militarization" of China's defensive construction on its South China Sea islands and reefs at the Q&A session. "Anyone who has some military sense would know it's not militarization," he said.
Wei is here to attend the 18th Shangri-La Dialogue from Friday to Sunday, and he gave a keynote speech on Sunday morning at a plenary session entitled "China and International Security Cooperation."
悉尼天文台揭秘“血红月亮”缘由
英国白领把同事当做首选倾诉对象
The Class of Online Games 网络游戏课程
苹果推出云计算服务iCloud
国际英语资讯:Britains Labour Party to back new EU vote in major policy shift
国际英语资讯:Aussie aerial shooting targets major feral animal threat in northern areas
夏奇拉新MV化身钢管舞女 诱惑十足
国际英语资讯:Yemen Houthi rebels attack airport, power plant in Saudi Arabia
国内英语资讯:East China province activates emergency response for floods
研究人员称,电子游戏有益于孩子的大脑
以色列科学家复活5000年前的古代啤酒,还喝了
艾滋病有望被治愈!基因编辑成功清除小鼠体内HIV病毒
国际英语资讯:Cuban doctors abducted in Kenya alive: health minister
LV做了个微信小程序,想"教育"你多花点钱
美国潜水员欲自费打捞拉登尸体
国际英语资讯:Interview: New Greek govt needs to give boost to reforms, investment to accelerate growth:
国际英语资讯:At least 40 injured in clashes between Palestinians, Israeli soldiers in eastern Gaza
潜意识好神奇 可预测歌曲是否会走红
健康应用数据为研究员带来机遇和障碍
给父亲的最好的礼物
女人天生情绪化 无理取闹竟是天性
德国科学家认为菠菜是兴奋剂,大力水手没骗你
施瓦辛格情人:儿子得知生父后觉得“太酷”
调查:美国爸爸把家庭放首位
超半数美国人因钱不够而失眠
为什么我没有相信她?
失业时回答讨厌问题的9个技巧
老爸也收花:最适合送给父亲的花
To Be a Wise Person 成为一个明智的人
国内英语资讯:China to host 44th session of World Heritage Committee
不限 |
英语教案 |
英语课件 |
英语试题 |
不限 |
不限 |
上册 |
下册 |
不限 |