China hopes the upcoming East Asia leaders' meetings in Malaysia will focus on regional cooperation instead of heightening the South China Sea disputes, said a senior diplomat on Tuesday.
The leaders' meetings, including the 18th leaders' meeting between China and the ASEAN; the 18th ASEAN-China, Japan and Republic of Korea leaders' meeting; and the 10th East Asia Summit, should concentrate on promoting growth and development amid the economic slowdown, Vice Foreign Minister Liu Zhenmin told a press conference.
Chinese Premier Li Keqiang will fly to Kuala Lumpur to attend the annual meetings later this week. U.S. President Barack Obama will also participate in the East Asia Summit, and hold a U.S.-ASEAN meeting during his stay.
U.S. National Security Advisor Susan Rice had said that the South China Sea will be a central issue of discussion both at the East Asia Summit and at the ASEAN-U.S. Summit.
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe also reportedly plans to raise issues concerning China's construction activities in the South China Sea in Kuala Lumpur.
China has urged the U.S. side to be discreet "to avoid sending wrong signals to regional countries"; and says Japan has no right to wade into the issue.
"Although we don't want to see the South China Sea issue became a hot topic at the summit, it is unavoidable that some countries may take up the matter," Liu said, noting China will reaffirm its stance in that case.
China hopes all involved in Kuala Lumpur will work together to enhance cooperation in the South China Sea instead of sparking quarrels, said the vice minister.
The meetings are not the appropriate occasion to discuss the South China Sea disputes, according to the Chinese Foreign Ministry, which holds that the issue should be addressed by China and concerned ASEAN members in bilateral channels.
Senior diplomats from China and the ASEAN held their routine meeting on the South China Sea in Chengdu last month.
Song Junying, a researcher with the China Institute of International Studies, said most ASEAN members don't want to linger on the South China Sea issue given their economic ties with China.
"Although the disputes cannot be fully solved in the near future, its negative effect can be managed and controlled," said Song.
During Tuesday's press conference, Liu defended China's construction on the Nansha islands, saying it is a "completely lawful, reasonable and sensible" process that will improve the living conditions of personnel in China's own territory and provide more public good for countries in the region as well as the international community.
The building serves mostly civilian purposes, the vice minister said, denying it would "militarize" the South China Sea amid international claims that China is building military-grade air strips on the islands.
Liu pointed to "some countries making a show of force in the area" as justification for China "taking measures to ensure the safety of its people as well as national security."
