China opened a meeting with defence ministers from the 10-nation Association of Southeast Asian Nations known as ASEAN today, amid rising tensions in the South China Sea.
The event marks the first time China has hosted such a meeting and takes place as expectations grow that the US Navy will directly challenge Beijing's claims to the South China Sea. Four of the ASEAN nations exercise claims to seas and islands in the South China Sea that clash with Beijing's own.
The informal meeting will be followed by the Xiangshan Forum, at which analysts, military leaders and others from around the globe will discuss Asian-Pacific security, maritime issues and anti-terrorism.
"China wants to use these sorts of forums to promote China's views, explain China's policies and improve China's security image," said regional security expert Li Mingjiang of Singapore's Nanyang Technological University. Since 2013, China has accelerated the construction of new islands atop reefs and atolls in the South China Sea and is adding buildings and airstrips in apparent attempts to boost its sovereignty claims to the territory.
Unnamed Pentagon officials said last week that the US Navy may soon receive approval to sail a ship inside the 21-kilometre territorial limit surrounding China's man-made islands, reported the Navy Times, which is closely affiliated with the US Navy. ASEAN member Philippines expressed support for such a move.
Sailing within boundary would mark the first time the US has directly challenged China's territorial claims since 2012 and reinforce Washington's assertion that land reclamation does not add sovereign territory.
The US and its allies, including the Philippines, say the newly made islands threaten stability in an increasingly militarised region.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said Wednesday the artificial islands were created for the public good and have "nothing to do" with militarisation.
China has also sparred with Vietnam, another ASEAN member, over ownership of the Paracel island group, leading to a confrontation last year when Beijing moved a massive oil drilling platform into contested waters.
On Thursday, Vietnam accused China of sinking one of its fishing boats near the disputed islands. The incident was apparently motivated by a desire to steal the ship's catch of fish and put it out of commission. There was no evidence that any Chinese government ships were involved, although Beijing's aggressive actions are believed to embolden Chinese fishermen in the area.
China's Defence Ministry has said that the ASEAN gathering in Beijing is to "promote strategic trust and pragmatic cooperation." Chinese Defence Minister Gen. Chang Wanquan will hold talks with his counterparts, the spokesman said.
