Southeast Asian nations back halt to land reclamation in South China Sea

(L-R) Myanmar's Foreign Minister Wunna Maung Lwin, Philippines' Foreign Secretary Albert del Rosario, Singapore's Foreign Affairs Permanent Secretary Chee Wee Kiong, Thailand's Foreign Minister Tanasak Patimapragorn, Vietnam's Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh, Malaysia's Foreign Minister Anifah Aman, Laos' Foreign Minister Thongloun Sisoulith, Brunei's Foreign Minister Mohamed Bolkiah, Cambodia's Foreign Minister Hor Namhong, Indonesia's Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi and Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Secretary General Le Luong Minh pose for photographs at the 48th ASEAN foreign ministers meeting in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, August 4, 2015. REUTERS/Olivia Harris

KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters) - Southeast Asian countries on Tuesday backed a U.S. call to halt land reclamation in the South China Sea, underlining unease in the region over Beijing's continued expansion on disputed islands.

China has said it does not want the issue raised at this week's meeting of foreign ministers from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in Kuala Lumpur.