A United States official on Thursday reiterated calls for claimant-countries in the South China Sea to end island-building in the disputed waters to achieve a “conducive environment” for negotiations. Patrick Murphy, US Department of State principal deputy assistant secretary for Southeast Asia, stressed discussions can only work if the environment is conducive for dialogue. “We also shared concerns about the need to create an environment conducive for dialogue, and that means sustaining a prohibition on militarization, construction, reclamation of disputed outposts,” Murphy said in a press briefing via phone.

Flores, H. (2018, April 7). US seeks end to SCS island-building. The Philippine Star, p. 7.