U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry on Thursday accused China of restricting navigation and overflights in the disputed South China Sea, despite giving assurances that such movements would not be impeded.
Addressing a regional meeting in Kuala Lumpur that has been dominated by the South China Sea, Kerry said China's construction of facilities for "military purposes" on man-made islands was raising tensions and risked "militarisation" by other claimant states.
Kerry's blunt criticism of Beijing, in front of his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi, is likely to put the South China Sea at the top of the agenda when Chinese President Xi Jinping visits Washington next month, experts said.
"Freedom of navigation and overflight are among the essential pillars of international maritime law," Kerry told the East Asia Summit attended by foreign ministers from around the region.
"Despite assurances that these freedoms would be respected, we have seen warnings issued and restrictions attempted in recent months," Kerry said.
"Let me be clear: The United States will not accept restrictions on freedom of navigation and overflight, or other lawful uses of the sea."
China warns
China has repeatedly warned Philippine military aircraft away from the artificial islands in the Spratly archipelago of the South China Sea, Philippine military officials have said.
The Chinese navy also issued eight warnings to the crew of a U.S. P8-A Poseidon surveillance aircraft when it conducted overflights in the area in May, according to CNN, which was aboard the U.S. aircraft.
China claims most of the South China Sea, through which $5 trillion in ship-borne trade passes every year. The Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Taiwan and Brunei also have overlapping claims.
There was no immediate reaction from Chinese officials to Kerry's criticism, some of his strongest yet over the issue.
China says the outposts in the Spratlys will have undefined military purposes, as well as help with maritime search and rescue, disaster relief and navigation.
Beijing halts
Wang said on Wednesday that Beijing had halted land reclamation and that the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and China shared a desire to resolve the thorny issue through dialogue.
In June, China said it would soon complete some of its reclamation, while adding it would continue to build facilities on the man-made islands.
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