South China Sea dispute: Beijing places missile launchers on island – as it happened

We’re wrapping up our live coverage now with a summary of key points. Thanks for reading. Our latest news take is here.

• China has placed surface-to-air missile equipment on Woody Island, part of the disputed Paracel Islands in the South China Sea, according to reports confirmed by the US and Taiwan governments.
  
• The region is subject to claims by a number of surrounding nations. China has been extending coastlines and building on top of reefs to strengthen their claim over large swathes of the region, which sees about $5trillion in international trade pass through it annually.
• Initial reports by Fox News were based on satellite images indicating construction in the last week.
  
• Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi did not dispute the reports, but said China was entitled under international law to build the “limited and necessary self defence facilities”.
  
• Minister Wang however suggested reports were the “creation” of Western media.
• Taipei said its military was “closely monitoring further development of the situation”.
• A spokesperson for the US state department said the US “continues to call on all claimants to halt land reclamation, construction, and militarization of features in the South China Sea.”
• After a US naval Destroyer sailed close to Paracel island last month, China accused the US of being “the biggest cause of militarisation in the South China Sea.”
• Australia’s foreign minister had earlier flagged raising the dispute with Wang Yi in their annual strategic meeting today, earning a rebuke from the China foreign ministry.
• Admiral Harry Harris, commander of the US Pacific Command, said a move to install missiles would be a “clear indication of militarisation.”
• Following the conclusion of the Asean summit in California this week, US president Barack Obama said leaders had discussed “the need for tangible steps in the South China Sea to lower tensions including a halt to further reclamation, new construction and militarisation of disputed areas”.

From Reuters: The deployment of missiles on the Paracel islands in the South China Sea would be contrary to China’s pledge not to militarise the region, Admiral Harry Harris, commander of the US Pacific Command, has said.

Harris said such a move would represent “a militarisation of the South China Sea in ways that President Xi said he [would] not do.”

“It would be a clear indication of militarisation,” Harris told a briefing in Tokyo, where he is meeting with Japanese defence officials.

Al Jazeera has filmed a one-minute explainer of the South China Sea dispute.

Meanwhile in Vietnam, this report from AP.

More than 100 people have gathered in Hanoi to commemorate the anniversary of Vietnam’s brief but bloody border war with China.

Thirty seven years ago, 600,000 Chinese troops invaded Vietnam to “teach Vietnam a lesson” for ousting the Beijing-backed Khmer Rouge in Cambodia. China withdrew its troops after a month.

The residents lit incense Wednesday and laid flowers at the statue of King Ly Thai To, a Vietnamese hero, in a ceremony that lasted an hour. They chanted “down with the aggressors,” and “Hoang Sa, Truong Sa,” the Vietnamese terms for the Paracel and Spratly islands, which are claimed by both countries.

The commemoration took place even though large gatherings without government sanctions are often stopped by the police.

There have been no official government commemorations of the war.

The press conference with the Chinese and Australian foreign ministers has concluded now.

The conference was already scheduled to follow a meeting between the two ministers. That it occurred within hours of the missile reports was just good or bad timing, depending on your perspective, and most questions went immediately to the international incident.

Minister Wang Yi did not deny reports that Beijing has installed surface-to-air missiles on Woody Island in the disputed region of the South China Sea, but he did suggest the stories were the creation of “Western media”.

He said it was well within China’s rights of self preservation under international law to install “limited and necessary self defence facilities” on islands and reefs where Chinese personnel are stationed.

He pointed to non-military installations by China, including lighthouses and rescue facilities which were contributing to the “public good” of the international community.

The foreign ministers have spoken on the Philippines arbitration hearing. Bishop said the Philippines was simply seeking a clarification of international law, “not a determination on the merits of respective maritime claims” she said.

Wang countered that China was following the law by not accepting arbitration with the Philippines because China had issued a declaration excluding it from compulsory settlement measures in the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.

“Let me also point out China is not the only country to issue such declarations” Wang said, citing “30 to 40” other countries, including Australia.

He said the Philippines pursuit was illegitimate, and the arbitration sought was not consistent with international practice because it did not ask for china’s consent or consult with them, he said.

He questioned if there was a hidden political agenda.

Australian minister Bishop welcomed Wang’s statement that China did not intend to militarise the islands.

She said the pair had “a forthright and candid discussion” about recent events in the South China Sea, and that their public and private position is consistent. “We do not take sides on competing claims in the South China Sea,” she said.

“We urge restraint and we urge that all parties settle their differences peacefully.”

Minister Wang also noted meteorological facilities and facilities for shelter and rescue built by China in the South China Sea. He said they were all actions undertaken by China “for the public good” of the international community.

“As for the limited and necessary self defence facilities China has built on islands and reefs stationed by Chinese personnel, that is consistent with the self defence and self preservation China is entitled to under international law.”

The ministerial statements have been delivered and questions from the floor have begun.

Minister Wang and Bishop have been asked by an ABC journalist about the missile deployment reports.

Wang said he was only told of the reports several minutes ago and suggested it was an attempt by “certain western media to create news stories.”

“I also hope the media everywhere… will turn your attention more to the lighthouse we have built on some of the islands... which are in operation now and have been very useful in assuring the safety of passing ships.”

Julie Bishop says she and Wang Yi discussed regional security issues including North Korea and South China Sea. “We had a candid exchange of views on these issues. China and Australia share a common interest in the maintenance of peace and security in our region.”

The press conference between Julie Bishop and Wang Yi is still going - it’s still largely about the strong relationship between the two nations.

In the meantime, in Vietnam - another country which claims sovereignty of Woody Island - the news of the Chinese missile move is being covered on news sites but mostly through aggregations of news from US sources.

But one editor at a state-owned newspaper told the Guardian that everyone’s awaiting the Foreign Ministry’s announcement, which is expected at the end of the day.

The editor, who asked to remain anonymous, said: “There is some cause for concern. These missiles supposedly have a range of 200 kilometers and that means they could hit Vietnamese Air Force jets just as they’re taking off.”

China’s foreign minister Wang Yi is currently addressing media after meeting with Australia’s Julie Bishop.

So far it’s been mainly about the business and trade relationship between the two nations, with no mention of the South China Sea or missiles.

Vietnam is yet to speak publicly on the news of the missile deployment, but premier Nguyen Tan Dung on Monday called for the US to play a larger role in de-militarisation of the South China Sea and have a “stronger voice”, Reuters reported.

“Prime Minister Dung suggested the United States has a stronger voice and more practical and more efficient actions requesting termination of all activities changing the status quo,” the government said.

The premier made the comments during the Asean summit in California.

Taiwan and China are the first to begin trading strong language over the incident. In a statement provided to media, Taipei said its military was “closely monitoring further development of the situation”.

“Regarding China’s military deployment in the region, the Taiwanese Defense calls on cooperation from all parties to safeguard the South China Sea’s peace and stability, and avoid any unilateral action that will escalate tension,” the statement continued.

The Chinese government responded, maintaining that its actions were peaceful and actually for the benefit of the international community.

“We’ve repeatedly stated our stance; the constructions on relevant islands by China are mainly to provide more public service to the international community as well as to facilitate rescue, fishery and medical operations,” foreign ministry spokesman Honglei said in a scheduled press conference.

“The relevant facilities will be used by the international community when needed. At the same time, we want to emphasize that the installation of military facilities is for self-defense, a right that China has in accordance with international law. It will not affect the freedom of navigation and overflight that all other countries are entitled to under international law.”