China must halt reclamation activities in disputed waters in the South China Sea, President Barack Obama warned Wednesday.
Obama, in his remarks after meeting Philippine President Benigno Aquino on the sidelines of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Manila, called for "bold steps" to ease tensions over disputed waters in the South China Sea, the Associated Press reported.
"We discussed the impact of China's reclamation and construction activities on regional stability. We agreed on the need for bold steps to lower tensions including pledging to halt further reclamation, new construction, and militarization of disputed areas in the South China Sea," he said in a joint press briefing with Aquino, according to Tempo.
Obama also reiterated his commitment to defend the Philippines' rights amid the maritime dispute in the region.
"As a treaty ally, we have a rock- solid commitment to the defence of the Philippines. And part of our goal is to continue to help our treaty partners build up capacity, to make sure that the architecture of both defence work, but also humanitarian work, and other important activities in the region are coordinated more effectively," he said, according to Straits Times.
Obama's remarks drew an angry reaction from Beijing. "If there is something that should stop, it is the United States should stop playing up the South China Sea issue, stop heightening tensions in the South China Sea," Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Hong Lei said, according to AFP.
China is reportedly running a massive land reclamation program in the Spratly archipelago of the South China Sea. The country claims most of the South China Sea, putting a strain on relations with its Asia Pacific neighbors.
