Firm line taken on sea dispute

Major General Luo Yuan, a researcher at the Chinese People's Liberation Army Military Science Academy, said he had noticed that Southeast Asian defense officials had downplayed their stance on the South China Sea issue at Sunday's session and voiced hopes of securing stability.

"Sun's speech indicates China's sincerity in resolving disputes," Luo added.

Vietnamese Deputy Minister of National Defense Nguyen Chi Vinh said at the session that Hanoi will continue to strengthen cooperation with China and other countries to build and consolidate confidence.

"We hope together that we will arrive at solutions that are acceptable to all," he said.

Singaporean Minister of Defense Ng Eng Hen said the Shangri-La Dialogue has been held for 15 years, and that China has become ASEAN's top trading partner.

Zhang Junshe, a senior researcher at the PLA Naval Military Studies Research Institute, said the Vietnamese official's comments are a call to some of the other parties involved and show that China's policy proposals serve the interests of people of all nations.

At a session on Saturday, US Defense Secretary Ash Carter outlined Washington's ambitions to increase alignment with allies in the region. He claimed that China has embarked on a "Great Wall of self-isolation" when advancing its military presence in the South China Sea.

Carter also said the arbitration case is "an opportunity for China and the rest of the region".

In an indirect response, Sun said on Sunday that some country "supports its allies in confronting China and pressuring China to accept and fulfill the ruling by the arbitration court".