China Must Explain Sea Plans to Small Nations, New Zealand Says
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Satellite imagery of the Fiery Cross Reef located in the South China Sea, on May 1.
Photographer: DigitalGlobe/ScapeWare3d/DigitalGlobe/Getty ImagesChina should explain its island building program in the South China Sea or it will continue to fuel insecurity among countries whose economies depend on free trade, including smaller nations many miles away, New Zealand Defence Minister Gerry Brownlee said.
“What we are looking to see from the Chinese is some better understanding about what it is about,” Brownlee said, referring to islands China has created that now cover more than 3,000 acres of land. “It is extremely important for the whole world’s economies that that remains a peaceable area and that open sea lanes and skies are available,” he said in an interview on Friday on the sidelines of the Shangri-La security forum in Singapore.