China pledges more dialogue on regional disputes
Iran Press TV
Fri Nov 21, 2014 9:30AM GMT
Chinese Defense Minister Chang Wanquan says Beijing wants to improve dialogue to manage territorial disputes with the country's neighbors over islands and waters in the South China Sea.
Chang made the remarks during a speech to Chinese-sponsored international security forum in Beijing on Friday.
The defense minister added that Beijing is considering opening defense hotlines with its Southeast Asian neighbors.
"We call for further strengthening of dispute management procedures to improve our ability to cope with crises," said Chang, adding, "Disputes should be resolved through negotiations with full respect to historical facts and international law."
Tensions have grown over the past year between China and its neighbors over a group of islands and waters in the South China Sea.
Beijing claims sovereignty over almost the whole of the South China Sea --- which is also claimed in part by Taiwan, Brunei, Vietnam, Malaysia and the Philippines. The waters are believed to sit atop vast reserves of oil and gas.
China is also involved in a separate territorial dispute with Japan after Tokyo nationalized part of the resource-rich and strategically-important uninhabited islands in the East China Sea in 2012.
Fears of an ensuing conflict grew in November 2013, when China imposed an Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ) over the East China Sea and announced that it required notification from planes crossing the area.
CAH/MKA/KA
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