China on Tuesday expressed "serious concern" over the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) coming out in opposition to land reclamation being undertaken in the South China Sea by Beijing.
Foreign ministry spokesperson Hong Lei's remarks to this effect came in the wake of Asean chairman -- and Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak -- expressing concern at China's ongoing reclamation efforts in the South China Sea.
Addressing the 26th Asean Summit in Malaysia, Razak said: "We share the serious concerns expressed by some leaders on the land reclamation being undertaken in the South China Sea."
The Asean statement also "reaffirmed the importance of maintaining peace, stability, security and freedom of navigation in and over-flight over the South China Sea", Xinhua reported.
Hong said in a press briefing that China's construction activities in the Nansha islands were totally within the scope of China's sovereignty.
"It is unimpeachable and there is no problem with the freedom of navigation in or flying over the South China Sea under international law. China is firmly opposed to the actions of an 'individual country' kidnapping the Asean and undermining the China-Asean friendship out of its private ends," said Hong.
Hong said the South China Sea dispute was not an issue between China and the Asean as a whole and that the relevant sides must work with China to safeguard peace, stability in the South China Sea and the China-Asean ties.
"China and the Asean should enhance strategic communications on the basis of mutual respect and mutual trust so as to achieve mutual benefit and win-win results," Hong added.
The Asean statement also urged intensified consultations on the Code of Conduct (COC) in the South China Sea to ensure the expeditious establishment of an effective COC.
Hong said China and the Asean countries were actively pushing forward the consultations on the COC so as to establish the mechanism based on consensus at an early date.
The Asean Summit was held on April 26-27 in Kuala Lumpur and Langkawi, Malaysia.
