China says it has been 'restrained' by not seizing more islands in South China Sea

Vice foreign minister Liu Zhenmin claims China could have taken back other reefs 'occupied illegally' by other nations China has exercised "great restraint" in the disputed South China Sea by not taking back islands occupied by other countries even though it could have, a senior Chinese diplomat said on Tuesday ahead of two regional summits. China has overlapping claims with Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia, Taiwan and Brunei in the South China Sea, through which $5 trillion in ship-borne trad...