China's defence minister urges not to play up South China Sea issues

China's Defence Minister Chang Wanquan (C) poses for a group photo of the ASEAN (the Association of Southeast Asian Nations) Defense Ministers' Meeting (ADMM) Plus in Malaysia, Nov 4, 2015. [Photo/Xinhua]

Chang further noted that China has been committed to building a China-ASEAN community of common destiny with all ASEAN countries, and as the South China Sea is an important water way for Asia-Pacific countries' international trade and energy transport, China would never do anything that may affect freedom of navigation in the South China Sea, but rather has provided such public security products and services as navigation guidance and assistance.

China has always respected and defended all countries' freedom of navigation and fly-over in the South China Sea and other places in the world according to the international law, Chang said.

Peace, development, cooperation and win-win have become the trend of the times, Chang said, calling on all related parties to follow the trend and play a constructive role in maintaining regional peace, stability, development and prosperity.

Founded in 1967, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) groups Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.

The ADMM-Plus brings together defence ministers from the 10 ASEAN countries and its eight dialogue partners, namely Australia, China, India, Japan, New Zealand, South Korea, Russia, and the United States.