China says 'freedom of navigation' no issue in S.China Sea
KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 22 (Reuters) - China said on Sunday that freedom of navigation and overflight over the South China Sea has never been a problem and reiterated that disputes over territory in the strategic waterway should be resolved by the countries concerned.
Vice Foreign Minister Liu Zhenmin made the remarks at a briefing during a meeting of Asia-Pacific leaders.
"Freedom of navigation and overflight have never been a problem," he said speaking about the South China Sea at a news conference.
Liu said China has put forward a proposal for properly handling South China Sea issues.
China, which claims almost the entire energy-rich South China Sea, has been transforming reefs into artificial islands in the Spratly archipelago and building airfields and other facilities on some of them. That has prompted concerns in Washington and across the region that Beijing is trying to militarise its claims in the South China Sea.
Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia, Taiwan and Brunei also have territorial claims in the South China Sea. (Reporting by Praveen Menon)
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