China blinks

BEIJING—China on Wednesday called for talks to resolve issues after a US warship patrolled near Beijing's man-made islands in the disputed South China Sea.

"China has always upheld resolving relevant issues via talks, not just with the United States but with all other countries. As for China and US, leaders from two countries have reached important consensus in the Washington meeting to resolve all issues through constructive dialogue and consultation," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang said in a news briefing.

           

"But of course this issue does not just depend on China. We hope the United States can meet us halfway," he added.

           

China claims most of the South China Sea, through which more than $5 trillion of world trade passes every year. The Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei, and Taiwan have rival claims.

           

The USS Lassen's patrol on Tuesday was the most significant US challenge yet to the 12-nautical-mile territorial limits China claims around artificial islands it has built in the Spratly archipelago.

           

Washington's move followed months of deliberation by President Barack Obama's administration and could ratchet up tension in one of the world's busiest shipping lanes and increase strains in U.S.-China relations.

           

"We hope that any country outside the region should support, rather than interfere in China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)'s joint, friendly efforts, and should not deliberately complicate the issue or damage this situation," Lu said.

           

"This is not beneficial for all sides, including those countries outside the region," he added.

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