The US State Department on Thursday said it regards Chinese reclamation in the South China Sea as "fueling greater anxiety" in the region, amid doubts about Beijing's intentions.
China on Thursday released plans for islands it is creating in the disputed South China Sea.
But State Department spokesman Jeff Rathke said the United States continues to raise concerns with China and others in the region about the situation.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying told a news briefing that the reclamation and building work in the Spratly archipelago of the South China Sea was needed partly because of the risk of typhoons in an area with a lot of shipping that is far from land.
"We are building shelters, aids for navigation, search and rescue as well as marine meteorological forecasting services, fishery services and other administrative services" for China and neighbouring countries, Hua said.
On the other hand, the Philippines' Department of Foreign Affairs said it will continue to pursue peaceful ways to settle its maritime dispute in the South China Sea, parts of it Manila calls West Philippine Sea.
"Sa ngayon, tuloy pa ring pinu-pursue ng Pilipinas ang diplomatic and legal tracks bilang record po natin for a peaceful settlement and rules-based of settlement dito po [sa] overlapping maritime claims dito po sa South China Sea," said DFA spokesperson Charles Jose said in an interview with GMA News TV's Quick Response Team on Thursday.
In July 2013, a United Nations arbitral tribunal was convened to look into the complaint filed by the Philippines disputing China's claims over the West Philippine Sea.
Jose said the DFA trusts that the arbitral tribunal will be fair and rule on the basis of international law.
"Ito po sa tingin natin ay the great leveler kasi nga ang China dinadaan sa lakas itong issue sa South China Sea. Umaasa po tayo na sa ilalim ng international law, lahat po ay pantay-pantay. Umaasa po tayo ng fair treatment," the spokesperson said.
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