Beijing summons G-7 envoys over island-building dispute

In a sign of growing tension over China's island-building in the South China Sea, Beijing summoned diplomats from the Group of Seven industrialized countries to protest its recent statement on maritime disputes that was clearly aimed at China's land reclamation efforts.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang said Wednesday that China “solemnly clarified” its position on the issue to the diplomats from the United States, Canada, France, Germany, Great Britain, Italy and Japan.

The move came in response to a statement by G-7 foreign ministers Monday that, while not mentioning China by name, expressed strong opposition to any “intimidating, coercive or provocative unilateral actions that could alter the status quo and increase tensions."

The statement also registered concern about the East China Sea, where Japan and China both claim uninhabited islands.

China argues its land reclamation projects in the Spratly Islands are within its territorial rights and says the G-7 group should stick to safeguarding the global economy.

In February, Secretary of State John Kerry responded sharply to reports that Beijing deployed surface-to-air missiles on a disputed island it controls in the strategic waterway.

"We have said repeatedly with respect to China that the standard that should be applied to all countries with respect to the South China Sea is no militarization," he said.

"But there is every evidence, every day that there has been an increase of militarization of one kind or another. It is of serious concern," Kerry added.