China has the same concern as other countries over freedom of navigation in the South China Sea, as most of China’s merchandise is transported by the Sea, the Chinese minister said, noting that freedom of navigation there is very important to China, too.

The Chinese navy also issued eight warnings to the crew of a U.S. P8-A Poseidon surveillance aircraft when it conducted overflights in the area in May, according to CNN, which was aboard the U.S. aircraft.

Minh highlighted the significance of resolving any disputes by peaceful means and in line with worldwide law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), and joining together to sustain a marine environment of peace and stability.

Wang Yi made the remark as this year’s ASEAN Foreign Ministers meeting wrapped up in the Malaysian capital. Not only are they in a key shipping route for the South China Sea, but they may also be rich in oil and gas reserves – surprise, surprise. “Take a plane and go see who is still building”, he said.

“The naval ships that were used by China to take back the islands were provided by the United States, our ally”, he said, adding, “These facts must have been recorded in your respective archives”.

Speaking at a press conference later on Thursday, Kerry said the U.S. hopes that China has genuinely stopped island building, as his meeting with Wang the day before had not provided a “fulsome” commitment to end the disputes.

An earlier draft communiqué said Asean was concerned about developments in the South China Sea and emphasized there should be no use of threats or force.

Wang said China is ready to step up cooperation with the US in the fields of investment, military, climate change, finance, economy and trade, energy, hunt of corrupt officials, justice and public health.

Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi said Thursday that search efforts for Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 should be continued to find the truth behind the one of the biggest mysteries in the aviation history.

The long-simmering dispute has flared at the meeting, which as well as representatives from Asean nations such as Vietnam, the Philippines and Malaysia included envoys from more than a dozen other countries such as China, Japan, South Korea and the US.

Kerry complained that China has not lived up to pledges to ease tensions and to not try to exert control over South China Sea navigation or flights.

“China has completed all land reclamation projects”.

China is the real victim in the South China Sea, Wang told the forum, pointing to what he said was the “occupation” of some of its islands there, including by the Philippines.

ASEAN has for years called on China to negotiate a Code of Conduct in the South China Sea, a binding set of rules aimed at preventing actions that lead to conflict.

He did not give further details on his meeting with Wang, beyond calling it “good”. The Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Taiwan and Brunei have overlapping claims. Both nations have voiced concerns about the militarization of the region as a result of the dispute.

US officials have estimated that China has created more than 2,000 acres of artificial land, made by piling sand from the sea floor on top of reefs.

Critics have reacted to the news that China has halted its construction of artificial islands with some skepticism.