US Naval chief terms China's 'great wall of sand' in 'disputed' South China Sea 'worrisome'

A U.S. commander has warned that the creation of "a great wall of sand" by China through land reclamation in the South China Sea has raised serious concerns over its territorial intentions.

Admiral Harry Harris Jr, the commander of the U.S. Pacific Fleet, said while addressing a naval conference at the Australian War Memorial that competing territorial claims made by several nations in the South China Sea are "increasing regional tensions and the potential for miscalculation," reported News.com.au.

He however, added that what was really drawing a lot of concern was the "unprecedented land reclamation" currently being conducted by China in the sea.

 

Harris added that China had already built almost over 4 square kilometers of artificial land by pumping sand on to live coral reefs and paving over them with concrete.

The region is although known for its beautiful natural islands but in sharp contrast, China is building "a great wall of sand with dredges and bulldozers over the course of months," he said.

The commander said that the U.S. continued to urge all sides to conform to the 2002 China-ASEAN Declaration of Conduct, in which all parties agreed to "exercise self-restraint in the conduct of activities that would complicate or escalate disputes and affect peace and stability."

Harris noted that China's movements in the South China Sea will be a key indicator of whether the region is headed toward confrontation or cooperation.

He added that the U.S. was on track to reposition 60 percent of its navy to the Pacific Fleet by 2020 and said that by maintaining "a capable and credible forward presence in the region," the nation would be in a better position to respond, if a crisis broke out.

The South China Sea is the subject of territorial claims with China, Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan and Vietnam disputing sovereignty of several island chains and nearby waters.

China has consistently resorted to history to stake territorial claims in the sea and objects to "U.S. interference."

The U.S. is not a claimant of territory in the South China Sea but says it has a national interest in the peaceful resolution of the conflict for world trade.