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."
体坛英语资讯:Brazilian racer Di Grassi wins karts competition
体坛英语资讯:Forlan awarded Golden Ball
体坛英语资讯:Premier League games postponed due to snow this weekend
体坛英语资讯:Para Games opening to highlight love
体坛英语资讯:Chinas top male shuttlers quit Hong Kong Open with top duo ousted
体坛英语资讯:Guardiola hopes form with last into 2011
体坛英语资讯:FIFA not thinking about changes to 2022 World Cup in Qatar
体坛英语资讯:Fluminenses Dario Conca wins Bola de Ouro
体坛英语资讯:Real Madrids Canales out for rest of 2010
体坛英语资讯:Benzema takes his chance with hat-trick as Madrid defeat Auxerre
体坛英语资讯:Bayern wins, Leverkusen ties at German Bundesliga
体坛英语资讯:Ronaldo to take paternity test
体坛英语资讯:Arsenal defender Vermaelen out until new year
体坛英语资讯:Indonesian boxer retains title
体坛英语资讯:Burga reelected head of the Peruvian Football Federation
体坛英语资讯:Corinthians draw 1-1 against Goias
体坛英语资讯:Serbia wins Davis Cup
体坛英语资讯:U.S. golfer Gates takes 2nd round lead in Australian PGA
体坛英语资讯:Deportivo beat Hercules 1-0 in dull encounter
体坛英语资讯:Brescia fire coach Iachini
体坛英语资讯:Inter beaten 3-0 by Bremen to finish second in group of Champions League
体坛英语资讯:Barca beat Ruben Kazan 2-0 in Champions League
体坛英语资讯:Real Madrid to use squad players against Auxerre
体坛英语资讯:Dutch team, Van Marwijk honored in Dutch FA
体坛英语资讯:Flamengos Bruno receives first sentence of 4.5 years in jail
体坛英语资讯:Geoff Ogilvy wins Australian Open in Sydney
体坛英语资讯:Parma beat Fiorentina in Italian Cup
体坛英语资讯:Big names in doping news as biological passport shows power
体坛英语资讯:Borriello scores as Milan lose to Roma 1-0
体坛英语资讯:Corinthians want to sign Brazilian striker Adriano from Roma
不限 |
英语教案 |
英语课件 |
英语试题 |
不限 |
不限 |
上册 |
下册 |
不限 |