US rejects China’s offer over disputed islands

From the Manila Standard Today (May 2): US rejects China’s offer over disputed islands

The United States on Friday swiftly rejected a suggestion by a top Chinese military official who said that disputed South China Sea islands could be used for international rescue and relief operations.

China’s President Xi Jinping (center) attends a
plenary session during the Asian Africa
Conference in Jakarta on April 22, 2015. Asian
and African leaders have gathered in Indonesia
this week to mark 60 years since a landmark
conference that helped forge a common identity
among emerging states, but analysts say
big-power rivalries will overshadow proclamations
of solidarity. AFP

Beijing has been roundly criticized by the West for construction work on islands in the South China Sea, including the building of an airstrip and other structures.

The Wall Street Journal and other US news organizations, citing a report on the Chinese Defense Ministry website, said Admiral Wu Shengli made the offer to his US counterpart, Admiral Jonathan Greenert, in a video conference.

Wu said China’s reclamation work on the disputed islands “will not threaten freedom of navigation and overflight” and will enhance the capacity for weather forecasting, maritime search and rescue and other public goods, and help to protect international maritime security, The Journal said, quoting the Chinese defense ministry report.

“We welcome international organizations, the US and relevant countries to use these facilities, when conditions are ripe, to conduct cooperation on humanitarian rescue and disaster relief,” the Chinese admiral was quoted as saying.

State Department acting deputy spokesman Jeff Rathke said Washington was not interested.

http://manilastandardtoday.com/2015/05/02/us-rejects-china-s-offer-over-disputed-islands/