China not to use force in South China sea dispute
June 14th, 2011 - 5:50 pm ICT by IANSBeijing, June 14 (IANS) China has said it will not resort to use of force to resolve maritime border disputes in the South China Sea, BBC reported.
Several Asian nations claim territory in the South China Sea, which includes important shipping routes and is believed to contain oil and gas deposits.
Vietnam is engaged in a renewed row with China over sovereignty of two groups of islands in the South China Sea - the Spratly and Paracel islands.
Tensions have escalated following two separate confrontations involving Vietnamese and Chinese boats in recent weeks.
On Monday, Vietnam staged live-fire drills after weeks of rising tensions between the two nations.
The Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Hong Lei, however, said: “We will not resort to the use of force or the threat of force.”
He condemned any action that would exacerbate the dispute, and urged those involved to “do more that is beneficial to regional peace and stability”.
The Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan also have rival claims in the area.
As the chair of the regional grouping Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), Vietnam promoted a multilateral approach to the problem. However, China said it prefers to negotiate with individual states separately.
- India denies naval stand-off with China - Sep 01, 2011
- South China Sea disputes to intensify, say experts - Nov 27, 2009
- Vietnam, US to hold high-level defence talks - Aug 16, 2010
- US urges a code of conduct in the South China Sea - Jul 23, 2010
- Vietnam protests China's tourism plan in disputed islands - Jan 05, 2010
- Vietnam protests China's law on island protection - Dec 30, 2009
- China opposed "internationalizing" South China Sea issue - Jul 31, 2010
- South China Sea is property of world: Krishna - Apr 06, 2012
- Beijing-Manila row over island - May 08, 2012
- South China Sea discussed in Manmohan-Wen talks - Nov 18, 2011
- 'Irrelevant parties should stay out of South China Sea' - Apr 10, 2012
- ONGC-Videsh going ahead with South China Sea exploration - Apr 24, 2012
- ONGC-Videsh going ahead with South China Sea exploration - Apr 24, 2012
- China urges ASEAN not to "internationalise" South China Sea issue - Jul 26, 2010
- India-Vietnam ties factor of peace in Asia-Pacific: PM - Oct 12, 2011
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