BEIJING, Aug. 7. China intends to construct lighthouses on the disputed South China Sea isles (North Reef, Antelope Reef, Drummond Island, South Sand, and Pyramid Rock), despite calls that had been received from the United States and the Philippines. Both countries had urged China to put a stop to the new project, believing that the new construction could irritate the neighboring Vietnam.

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The idea to freeze new South China Sea activity - including construction and installations - was presented by the United States in July. The Philippines had been quick to agree to this policy not long after.

A Chinese navigation official had objected to the idea of ceasing construction, stating that the new lighthouses were necessary aids for navigational purposes and would help improve the safety and regulation of Chinese ships.

Both the United States and the Philippines had hoped that temporarily freezing the South China Sea activity would ease the territorial tension that has been occurring between China and Vietnam. Two of the five islands that China intends to use to construct the lighthouses - Drummond Island and Pyramid Rock - have also been claimed by Vietnam. While China knows the isles' location as the Xisha, Vietnam calls this area the Hoang Sa Archipelago. 

The two South China Sea isles are not the only territory that has caused a dispute between China, Vietnam, and the Philippines. While China has claimed 90 percent of the South China Sea as its own, the territory has also received claims from the Philippines, Vietnam, Brunei, Taiwan, and Malaysia. 

A conference led by the Association of Southeast Asian Nations will take place this weekend in Myanmar. Chinese Foreign Minister, Wang Yi and United States Secretary of State, John Kerry, will both be in attendance. They will be joined by foreign ministers from the EU, Japan, South Korea, Russia, and Australia. Despite China's objections, Kerry intends to use the conference to encourage a voluntary freeze on new South China Sea activity. 

TagsSecretary of State John Kerry, Association of Southeast Asian Nations, Vietnam