© Kyodo/Reuters
ADtv @JamaliahYusofYacob - China telah memanggil wakil-wakil dari Kumpulan 7 (G7) negara untuk menyatakan kemarahan selepas negara berkata mereka "bimbang" mengenai keadaan di Timur dan Laut China Selatan.
"China memanggil utusan diplomatik negara-negara berkenaan," Lu Kang, jurucakap Kementerian Luar China, berkata semasa taklimat media.
Ia datang selepas negara-negara G7 - Amerika Syarikat, Kanada, UK, Perancis, Jerman, Itali, dan Jepun - mengumumkan dalam satu kenyataan bersama: "Kami mengambil berat tentang keadaan di Laut China Timur dan Selatan, dan menekankan kepentingan asasi pengurusan aman dan penyelesaian pertikaian."
China summons G7 diplomats after group expressed 'concern' over situation in South China Sea . . .
China has summoned representatives from the Group of Seven (G7) nations to express anger after the countries said they were “concerned” about the situation in the East and South China Seas.
"China summoned the diplomatic envoys of relevant countries," Lu Kang, a spokesman for China's Foreign Ministry, said during a press briefing.
It comes after the G7 countries – the US, Canada, the UK, France, Germany, Italy, and Japan – announced in a joint statement: “We are concerned about the situation in the East and South China Seas, and emphasize the fundamental importance of peaceful management and settlement of disputes."
Read more: Philippines, US launch large-scale naval drills ‘without China in mind’ (Baca lebih lanjut: Filipina, US melancarkan latihan tentera laut secara besar-besaran 'tanpa fikir dalam China')
Kenyataan itu dibuat semasa mesyuarat 2 hari di Hiroshima, Jepun.
Negara-negara G7 juga menggesa "semua negeri-negeri untuk menahan diri dari tindakan seperti tebusan semula tanah" dan "membina pos-pos . . . untuk tujuan ketenteraan." Beijing telah membina pulau buatan di Laut China Selatan, ada yang dilengkapi dengan landasan 3000 meter panjang. Ia juga telah menggerakkan peralatan ketenteraan ke kawasan ini.
Walaupun komen yang tidak secara khusus menamakan China, Beijing meletakkan tuntutan kepada hampir seluruh Laut China Selatan - dipercayai kaya dengan minyak dan gas - walaupun bercanggah tuntutan daripada Brunei, Malaysia, Vietnam, Taiwan, dan Filipina. Jepun juga mempunyai pertikaian dengan Beijing alih pemilikan pulau-pulau Senkaku di Laut China Timur.
Selain penyata, Lu berkata, "seorang pegawai kanan salah satu daripada negara-negara G7 menyebut bahawa China perlu mendengar suara [yang] G7." Komen Itu dipercayai bertujuan Jepun.
Kesimpulannya, Lu berkata Beijing percaya G7 tidak harus membuat kenyataan itu, sambil menambah bahawa negara2 "hanya cuba untuk menghiburkan diri mereka dengan mengeluarkan kenyataan seperti itu."
Pemanggilan oleh orang Cina datang sebagai sumber tentera mengumumkan bahawa pegawai-pegawai pertahanan dari Filipina dan Vietnam akan bertemu minggu ini untuk meneroka latihan bersama mungkin dan rondaan tentera laut di Laut China Selatan. Kedua-dua negara bersetuju dengan perkongsian strategik pada bulan November untuk meningkatkan hubungan keselamatan, China terus berkembang kehadirannya di perairan yang dipertikaikan.
Pada hari Selasa, Fox News melaporkan bahawa China telah mengerahkan jet pejuang baru di Pulau Woody Laut China Selatan, memetik imej satelit dari awal bulan ini. Pulau, sebahagian daripada Kepulauan Paracel, sebahagian besarnya dikawal oleh China, walaupun Taiwan dan Vietnam juga telah meletakkan tuntutan ke atasnya.
Awal bulan ini, Amerika Syarikat dan tentera bersekutu berkumpul di Filipina untuk latihan ketenteraan bersama sebagai tanda kekerasan terhadap China. Lebih 5,000 tentera mengambil bahagian dalam latihan tahunan, yang akan berlangsung hingga April 16. Tentera Amerika Syarikat telah menghantar kapal perang Amerika Syarikat untuk mengadakan latihan di rantau ini sebanyak 2 kali sejak musim luruh lalu, kritikan tajam dari Beijing.
The comment was made during a two-day meeting in Hiroshima, Japan.
The G7 nations also urged “all states to refrain from such actions as land reclamations” and “building of outposts...for military purposes.” Beijing has built up artificial islands in the South China Sea, some of which are equipped with runways 3,000 meters long. It has also deployed military equipment to the area.
Although the comments did not specifically name China, Beijing lays claim to almost all of the South China Sea – believed to be rich in oil and gas – despite conflicting claims from Brunei, Malaysia, Vietnam, Taiwan, and the Philippines. Japan also has a dispute with Beijing over ownership of the Senkaku islands in the East China Sea.
In addition to the statements, Lu said “a senior official of one of the G7 countries mentioned that China needs to heed the voice of [the] G7.” That comment is believed to be aimed at Japan.
In conclusion, Lu said Beijing believes the G7 shouldn't make such remarks, adding that the countries are “just trying to amuse themselves by issuing such statements.”
The summoning by the Chinese comes as military sources announced that defense officials from the Philippines and Vietnam will meet this week to explore possible joint exercises and naval patrols in the South China Sea. The two nations agreed on a strategic partnership in November to boost security relations, as China continues to expand its presence in the disputed waterway.
On Tuesday, Fox News reported that China had deployed new fighter jets in the South China Sea's Woody Island, citing satellite imagery from earlier this month. The island, part of the Paracel Islands, is largely controlled by China, although Taiwan and Vietnam have also laid claims on it.
Earlier this month, the US and allied forces gathered in the Philippines for joint military exercises as a show of force against China. More than 5,000 troops are taking part in the annual drills, which will run through April 16. The US military has sent US warships to conduct exercises in the region twice since last autumn, drawing sharp criticism from Beijing.
