China and the United States are locked in a stalemate over Beijing’s extensive land reclamation in the South China Sea, with experts pessimistic that the two powers can resolve their differences in the near future.

The best the countries could do was to strengthen communication between their militaries, the analysts said, with the tensions over the contested waters likely to overshadow upcoming dialogues.

Tensions have flared again in recent days, following a CNN report last week on China’s warnings against a US spy plane’s flight over the South China Sea, as well as Beijing’s release on Tuesday of a white paper that unveiled plans to expand its naval power and counter US surveillance.

… Dr Li Mingjiang, at Nanyang Technological University’s S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies in Singapore, said the two powers were far from resolving their differences, but it was unlikely the tensions would trigger a military stand-off.

Both needed to voice their discontent, but neither wanted tensions to escalate, Li said.