South China Sea and Territorial Dispute

China: The strategically important South China Sea is at the center of a territorial dispute involving China on one side and a number of ASEAN countries on the other, including Vietnam, the Philippines and Malaysia, according to Asahi Shimbun. Tensions have ramped up since China began a massive land reclamation program in 2013. At the end of their annual retreat, held this year in the Lao capital of Vientiane, they noted their worries and reaffirmed the importance of maintaining peace, security and stability in the area. Recent satellite imagery suggests that China has installed surface-to-air missiles in a disputed area in the Paracels chain, prompting accusations that Beijing is militarizing the area. The statement added that the activities have eroded trust and confidence, increased tensions and may undermine peace, security and stability in the region. A joint statement said the ASEAN foreign ministers remained seriously concerned over recent and ongoing developments and took note of the concerns expressed by some members on the land reclamations and escalation of activities in the South China Sea. (news.financializer.com). As reported in the news.