China has been building artificial islands in the South China Sea, drawing criticism from its neighbors including the Philippines and Vietnam.
China will force back the United States in the South China Sea should Washington continue to advance its position in the region, says a political commentator.
If the United States wants to advance its "position in the region, the Chinese side may push back,” Paul James, who is a host at China Radio International, told Press TV on Friday.
"The South China Sea has been an issue between China and many of the countries in the region for many, many years,” said James.
“The new adaption to this whole thing is the fact that the United States is starting to take more proactive stance on the issue over the past couple of weeks; a little bit more rhetoric and a little bit more complaints from the US side, including overflights of the area which is obviously a major concern for the Chinese side,” he added.
James went on to say that the rhetoric may impact the overall relationship between Beijing and Washington.
He made the remarks shortly after Pentagon chief Ashton Carter urged General Fan Changlong, vice chairman of China's Central Military Commission, to put a “lasting halt” on construction of artificial islands in the waters of the South China Sea.
Washington accuses Beijing of undergoing a massive “land reclamation” program in the Spratly archipelago of the South China Sea, and says China’s territorial claims of the man-made islands could further militarize the region.
Meanwhile, China called on the United States to stop “pointing fingers” at Beijing over its territorial claims on the South China Sea islands.
"Resorting to microphone diplomacy, or pointing fingers at each other, will not solve any problems," Wu Xi, the deputy chief of mission at the Chinese embassy in Washington, said on Thursday.
“The right choice is to recognize our differences, respect each other and engage in real dialogue," he added.
SB/AGB