China defended its activities in the South China Sea as restrained and responsible on Friday after the US intelligence chief called its expansion of outposts in the region an “aggressive” effort to assert sovereignty. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong lei said the country’s activities on shoals and in surrounding waters it claims are “reasonable, legitimate and legal” and that its attitude has been one of “restraint and responsibility.”
China says it has historical claims to a huge swath of the South Sea China that overlaps the claims of several neighbours including Vietnam, Malaysia, Taiwan and the Philippines, and it objects to what it considers US meddling. The US says it has a national interest in the peaceful resolution of the disputes in the region. US Director of National Intelligence James Clapper cited China’s expansion of its outposts, including for the stationing of ships and potential airfields, at a US Senate hearing in Washington on Thursday.
China moots trilateral coop with India, lanka
Beijing: China proposed trilateral cooperation involving India and Sri lanka for regional stability as the new Government in Colombo sought to re-balance its ties with China, preferring to follow a “non-aligned” policy. “China is open-minded about trilateral cooperation between China, India (and) Sri lanka,” Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said during a conference with Sri lankan counterpart Samaraweera.