Pentagon chief urges end to island-building in West PH Sea - Institute for Maritime and Ocean Affairs

U.S. Defense Secretary Ash Carter on Wednesday called for an immediate end to island-building by China and other countries near the South China Sea, urging the participants to stop militarizing the dispute and find a peaceful solution.

Carter said China’s island-building efforts were “out of step” with the regional consensus and that U.S. military aircraft and warships would continue to operate in the area as permitted under international law.

“China’s actions are bringing countries in the region together in new ways,” he said in a military ceremony in Hawaii. “They’re increasing demand for American engagement in the Asia-Pacific. We’re going to meet it.”

“We will remain the principal security power in the Asia-Pacific for decades to come,” Carter said.

Carter’s comments, at Pearl Harbor, came a week after the U.S. Navy sent a P-8 reconnaissance plane carrying Navy and television camera crews to film Chinese island-building activity in the disputed Spratly Islands in the South China Sea.

U.S. officials say China has added some 2,000 acres (800 hectares) to five outposts in the Spratlys, including 1,500 acres since the start of this year.