European Council President Donald Tusk has criticized "construction activities" in the South China Sea, a reference to China's land reclamation on submerged reefs, saying it would complicate the resolution of disputes.
Speaking to Japanese reporters ahead of a Japan-EU summit in Tokyo on Friday, Tusk said the "European position is that all parties of these tensions and conflicts have to refrain from use of threats and force," affirming the view agreed by the Group of Seven industrial economies since last year. The EU takes part in G-7 meetings, along with Japan, Canada and the United States.
"Some activities, so-called construction activities on the sea . . . will make it much more difficult to solve the problem, to find a legal status for this area," Tusk said Tuesday, adding that a peaceful solution must be found.