China deploying defense facilities on Xisha Islands cannot be regarded as militarization, the foreign ministry said. (Photo : Getty Images)
China, through its Foreign Ministry, remarked on Thursday that deploying defense facilities on Xisha Islands is not relevant with the negotiations over the South China Sea code of conduct, China Daily reported.
During a media briefing, Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei said that deploying such facilities "is irrelevant to a comprehensive implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea, or to the consultations over the Code of Conduct in the South China Sea."
This statement comes as the national government reiterated its stepped-up efforts in negotiating to arrive at the code.
Additionally, Hong said his remarks as China continues to receive speculations about the country deploying missiles on the disputed islands in the South China Sea.
Critics also claim that China appears "not to be serious about consultations over the code," the report said.
Media men from Western nations have been following the news about China's defense facilities on Xisha Islands after FoxNews reported that Beijing has deployed a missile system in the area's Yongxing Island.
Hong pointed out that the Xisha Islands are part of the country's "inherent territory," and not part of the so-called disputed islands. He added that deploying defense facilities there should not be considered militarization but rather as a move "within China's sovereignty."
Back in 2002, China, along with the members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), agreed and signed the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea. This agreement shows the countries' consensus to adopt a code of conduct.
China and the ASEAN members commenced consultations on the code in 2013. Hong said that since then, the country has been cooperative in actively negotiating consultations over the code.
Meanwhile, experts noted that the said code will only apply to disputed islands, which do not include the Xisha Islands.
Li Jinming, a professor of maritime policy and law at Xiamen University, also emphasized that the islands have always been under the administration of the Chinese government.
Commenting on China's role in reaching a code of conduct, Li said that the nation "has always been coordinating, but neighboring countries should also invest in such efforts."
