Chinese leaders take tough stand on S.China sea in Kerry meet
May 16, 2015, 4:54 pm

(150516) — BEIJING, May 16, 2015 (Xinhua) — Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi (R) holds talks with U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry in Beijing, capital of China, May 16, 2015 [Xinhua]

Li urged the US to “handle and control disputes with China in a constructive manner, and do more to promote the mutual trust and regional cooperation”.

Kerry also held talks with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and top diplomat Yang Jiechi on Saturday.

Foreign Minister Wang Yi took a tough public stance saying China will not back off from its territorial claims.

“The determination of the Chinese side to safeguard our own sovereignty and territorial integrity is as firm as a rock and it is unshakeable,” said Wang.

China claims about 90 per cent of the South China Sea. According to official Chinese data, the South China Sea covers 3.55 million square km.

China, the Philippines, Vietnam and other nations lay contesting claims to these waters.

China exercises jurisdiction over about 2 million square km of the maritime territory.

Chinese President Xi Jinping will meet his US counterpart Barack Obama in September in Washington in a summit aimed at decreasing differences between the two biggest economies of the world.

The Chinese Foreign Minister, during talks with Kerry on Saturday, also dismissed the notion that recent Chinese endeavours including the Asia Security concept and the Asia Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) are geared to squeeze the US out of Asia.

“We always believe that Asia should be an open and inclusive Asia. The U.S. is an important country in the Asia-Pacific region, and we welcome the positive and constructive role of the U.S. in Asia- Pacific affairs,” Wang told the press following talks with Kerry.

China’ s proposal of setting up the AIIB, which focuses on filling the gap in infrastructure investment in Asia, received widespread support, including from core US allies like Britain, Germany and France. A total of 57 countries have submitted applications to be the founding members of AIIB.

“Among them 23 are from regions outside of Asia.” Wang said. “This demonstrates China’ s efforts in putting its belief that Asia should be an open and inclusive Asia into practical actions,” he added.

China and the US are locked in competition over trade and over military and diplomatic influence in the region.

China has repeatedly accused the US of trying to profit from the historical maritime territorial disputes between China and some of its neighbors.

US Treasury reports have also often criticized China’s economic policies saying China tries to keep the value of its currency artificially low to give an unfair advantage to its exporters.

The Chinese Foreign Minister on Saturday, however, said despite differences, US and China can seek common ground.

“It is OK to have differences, as long as we can avoid misunderstanding and more importantly miscalculations.” Wang said.

US Secretary of State John Kerry will meet Chinese President Xi Jinping on Sunday.

 TBP and Agencies