US demands end to Chinese land reclamation

The United States has demanded an "immediate and lasting halt" to Chinese land reclamation in disputed waters of the South China Sea.

US Defence Secretary Ashton Carter told the Shangri-La dialogue that China’s actions in the area were “out of step” with international rules and called for a “peaceful resolution to all disputes”.

"To that end, there should be an immediate and lasting halt to land reclamation by all claimants," he told the conference that was attended by defence ministers from across the Asia-Pacific region.

While acknowledging that Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia and Taiwan had also reclaimed pockets of land or built outposts in the waters, he warned that China “has gone much farther and much faster than any other".

"China has reclaimed over 2,000 acres, more than all other claimants combined and more than in the entire history of the region,” Carter said. “And China did so in only the last 18 months.”

"It is unclear how much farther China will go. That is why this stretch of water has become the source of tension in the region and front-page news around the world."

Carter added that the US would maintain a substantial presence in the region.

“The United States will fly, sail, and operate wherever international law allows,” he said.

However, Senior Colonel Zhao Xiaozhuo, a member of China's delegation at the conference, insisted that China's actions were "reasonable and justified".

“It is wrong to criticise China for affecting peace and stability through construction activities".

Carter's speech follows reports from US defence officials that China had placed two artillery vehicles on one of the artificial sands it is creating in the disputed Spratley Islands area of the South China Sea.

However, China has said that it is “not aware of the situation” described by the US.

“We urge them to stop making provocative remarks,” China's foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said.