Beijing not to stir trouble in South China Sea: Xi
Iran Press TV
Sat May 31, 2014 9:30PM GMT
Chinese President Xi Jinping has pledged that his country will not "stir up trouble" in the disputed waters of the South China Sea claimed by six neighboring nations.
"We will never stir up trouble, but will react in the necessary way to the provocations of countries involved," Xinhua quoted Xi as saying in a Friday meeting with Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak, whose country is involved in the row with China over the energy-rich waters.
The Chinese leader further described the situation in the South China Sea as "stable in general" and said Beijing and Kuala Lumpur must "work together" to maintain "peace and stability" in the contested waters.
China claims sovereignty over the South China Sea almost in its entirety, while other countries including the Philippines, Japan, Vietnam, Taiwan, Malaysia, and Brunei also have claims to the area and are in dispute with Beijing.
The waters are believed to sit atop vast reserves of oil and gas.
On Saturday, US Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel said China was destabilizing the South China Sea region by pursuing territorial disputes with other nations.
This is while Beijing has frequently warned the United States to be cautious in its words and actions with regards to the territorial disputes involving China and its neighbors.
Earlier this month, the Chinese Foreign Ministry criticized the United States for stoking tensions in the disputed South China Sea by encouraging countries to engage in dangerous behavior, urging the US administration to "stop making irresponsible remarks and do more to maintain regional peace and stability."
MKA/NN/AS
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