US Calls to Halt Land Reclamation, Building Facilities in South China Sea

US National Security Advisor Susan Rice urged China and the member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations to create a code of conduct in the South China Sea.

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) — The United States urges all parties claiming the Spratly islands in the South China Sea to stop reclaiming land and building new facilities on the disputed territories, US National Security Advisor Susan Rice stated on Monday.

"We call upon all claimants to reciprocally halt land reclamation, construction of new facilities and militarization of outposts on disputed territories," she said.

Rice also urged China and the member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations to create a code of conduct in the South China Sea.

Countries located in and around the South China Sea, including the Philippines, Malaysia and Vietnam, have expressed competing claims to the disputed Spratly islands.

China claims sovereignty over the Spratly Islands and a 12 nautical mile zone surrounding them.

The United States has repeatedly warned that it does not recognize the sovereignty of the Chinese claims, and has raised concerns over Beijing’s activities in the region.