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2nd LD-Writethru: U.S. militarizing South China Sea: spokesperson

Xinhua, March 4, 2016 Adjust font size:

A spokesperson for China's national legislature said Friday that it is the United States that is militarizing the South China Sea.

Fu Ying, spokesperson for this year's annual session of the National People's Congress that will kick off Saturday, said at a press conference that currently most of the advanced aircraft and warships passing through the South China Sea belong to the United States.

Fu made remarks when answering a question from a CBS correspondent about China's construction of military facilities in the islands and reefs in the South China Sea.

She said that according to its strategy of pivot to Asia-Pacific, the United States has decided to deploy a larger part of its naval force to this region. It is also strengthening military presence in the Asia Pacific region with its allies.

"Isn't it militarization?" She asked in reply, adding that wrongly accusing China's militarization in the waters is a hegemonic act in language, which will also mislead the situation.

Most of Chinese lawmakers and ordinary people are not pleased and do not agree with the U.S. showing off military power by sending warships to waters close to the South China Sea islands and reefs.

The United States said it did not take sides in the South China Sea disputes, however, its acts and rhetoric make people feel that it is raising tensions in the region, Fu said.

China's construction projects in the South China Sea islands and reefs are necessary for providing public services and strengthening China's capacities for safeguarding regional peace.

In addition, China has never recognized some countries' illegal occupation of some islands and reefs, and China's policy of putting aside disputes and seeking joint development is based on China's sovereignty over those islands and reefs.

As the islands and reefs are far from the mainland, they should have defense capacities, but those efforts should not be described as militarization, Fu added.

"If the United States is really concerned about regional stability and peace, is should support negotiations between China and neighboring countries," according to Fu. Endi