China to complete land reclamation of construction on some Nansha Islands

BEIJING - The land reclamation project of China's construction on some stationed islands and reefs of the Nansha Islands, as planned, will be completed in the upcoming days, according to relevant Chinese competent departments.

"Apart from satisfying the need of necessary military defense, the main purpose of China's construction activities is to meet various civilian demands and better perform China's international obligations and responsibilities," Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lu Kang said on Tuesday in a press release.

The obligations and responsibilities are in the areas such as maritime search and rescue, disaster prevention and mitigation, marine scientific research, meteorological observation, ecological environment conservation, navigation safety as well as fishery production service, Lu said.

After the land reclamation, China will start the building of facilities to meet relevant functional requirements, Lu said.

He stressed the construction activities on the Nansha islands and reefs fall within the scope of China's sovereignty, which are "lawful,reasonable and justified."

"They are not targeted at any other country, do not affect the freedom of navigation and overflight enjoyed by all countries in accordance with international law in the South China Sea, nor have they caused or will they cause damage to the marine ecological system and environment in the South China Sea, and are thus beyond reproach," Lu said.

He reaffirmed China's commitment to the path of peaceful development, saying that China follows a foreign policy of forging friendship and partnership with her neighbors and a defense policy that is defensive in nature.

He said China remains a staunch force for regional peace and stability.

China, while firmly safeguarding her territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests, will continue to dedicate herself to resolving relevant disputes with relevant states directly concerned in accordance with international law and through negotiation and consultation on the basis of respecting historical facts, Lu said.

China will work with the ASEAN member states to push forward actively the consultation on a "Code of Conduct in the South China Sea" within the framework of fully and effectively implementing the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea, Lu said.

China will continue to uphold the freedom of navigation as well as peace and stability in the South China Sea, Lu said.