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[h=4]Xi: U.S.-China relations 'stable' despite islands dispute[/h]TOKYO — Chinese President Xi Jinping insisted Sunday that relations with the United States remain "stable" despite a standoff over China's territorial claims in the disputed South China Sea.
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US Secretary of State John Kerry met Chinese President Xi Jinping on Sunday. AP
U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry shakes hands with Chinese President Xi Jinping at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China, 17 May 2015.(Photo: Kim Kyung-Hoon, EPA)
TOKYO — Chinese President Xi Jinping insisted Sunday that relations with the United States remain "stable" despite a standoff over China's territorial claims in the disputed South China Sea.
"I look forward to continuing to develop this relationship with President Obama and to bring China-U.S. relations to a new height along a track of a new model of major country relationship," Xi said, according to Reuters., as U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry wrapped up a two-day visit to Beijing.
Chinese media earlier warned that Kerry appeared ready to "pick a fight" over China's massive land reclamation program in the South China Sea, parts of which are claimed by five other countries, including U.S. treaty ally Philippines.
U.S. officials say a string of artificial islands that China is building in the region could be used as military bases from which China could attempt to restrict air and sea traffic.
On Saturday, Foreign Minister Wang Yi said China would not change course.
"The determination of the Chinese side to safeguard our own sovereignty and territorial integrity is as firm as a rock, and it is unshakable," Wang said after a meeting with Kerry, the Associated Press reported.
Kerry was in China for talks on a range of trade and security issues. But the South China Sea, home to some of the busiest air and sea routes in the world, was expected to dominate the agenda. China claims virtually all of the 1.35 million square mile waterway.
"We are concerned about the pace and scope of China's land reclamation in the South China Sea," Kerry said at a joint press conference following his meeting with Wang. "I urged China through Foreign Minister Wang to take actions that will join everybody in helping to reduce tensions and increase the prospect of a diplomatic solution."
USA TODAY
Kerry, Chinese leaders square off over South China Sea
The impasse is no surprise, said Ben Schreer, a defense specialist at the Australian Strategic Policy Institute, in Canberra.
"Too much is at stake for both sides in order for one of them to back down. For the U.S., it's the reputational risk to its leadership in the region. For China it's the domestic reputation that is at stake" Schreer said.
He said China's island-building campaign would continue to trouble U.S-China relations.
"It is a serious problem since it challenges the rules-based order in the region and is also in violation with international law," he said.
Despite the disagreement, Xi said Sunday that, "In my view, the China-U.S. relationship has remained stable," Reuters reported.
Recent satellite images show that China is building artificial islands in seven locations, some with what appear to be runways and port facilities that could accommodate large ships and aircraft.
Tensions escalated this week with reports that U.S. Defense Secretary Ashton Carter was considering a plan to send U.S. ships and planes within 12 miles of China's reclamation sites to demonstrate U.S. commitment to freedom of navigation in the region.
Also last week, a new, high-tech Navy warship was closely shadowed by Chinese navy ships during what a senior Navy official said was a "routine," week-long patrol near the Spratly Islands, where the reclamation activity is taking place. The encounters were described as "professional" and no untoward activity was reported.
Earlier Saturday, the official Xinhua news agency said that Western news coverage indicated that Kerry was coming to China to "pick a fight" with Beijing over the South China Sea and warned that it "smacks of a plot to force Kerry to take on an issue that should never become a concern in China-U.S. ties."
Nonetheless, on Saturday both Kerry and Wang stressed the importance of dialogue in resolving the issue, and Kerry urged China to speed up talks with ASEAN on binding guidelines for how maritime activity in disputed areas should be handled
"I think we agree that the region needs smart diplomacy in order to conclude the ASEAN-China code of conduct and not outposts and military strips," Kerry said.
Despite the clear disagreements over the South China Sea, Kerry and Wang said they were on track to make progress in other areas, notably on climate change, the fight against violent extremism and preparations for the next round of the U.S.-China Strategic and Economic Dialogue in June and Chinese President Xi Jinping's visit to Washington in September.
They expressed pleasure with their cooperation in the ongoing Iran nuclear talks, their solidarity in trying to denuclearize North Korea and combat diseases such as the deadly Ebola virus.
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