Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has expressed strong concerns over Beijing's ongoing land-reclamation work in the South China Sea in the presence of Chinese Premier Li Keqiang at a regional summit.
Without directly naming China, Abe voiced "serious concerns" Saturday over the large-scale reclamation work, pointing out that such "unilateral action that would change the status quo and raise regional tensions," a Japanese official said.
"In order to protect free and peaceful waters, it is important for the international community to work together," the official quoted Abe as saying at the meeting in Kuala Lumpur that was also attended by Li, South Korean President Park Geun-hye and their counterparts from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.