While urging collective action against terrorism following last weekend’s attacks in Paris, the 21 APEC leaders tiptoed around the sensitive issue of the South China Sea territorial disputes, which have set China against several other APEC countries, including the U.S.
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China has said it does not want the South China Sea issue to be the focus of the meetings in Kuala Lumpur but acknowledged the topic would be hard to avoid.
Overseas shipments by value declined 2.1 percent, the first fall since August of a year ago, while the value of exports by Japanese companies to China shrank 3.6 percent in October, the ministry said, as growth in the world’s second-largest economy slows.
The two leaders held talks on strengthening bilateral economic and defense relations as well as keeping peace and stability in the region in the light of the territorial dispute in the South China Sea and later witnessed the signing of the two pacts. During that meeting, Fan had said the USA patrols were a “wrongdoing” and “dangerous behavior” that should be stopped immediately. The sweeping free trade agreement is at the heart of Obama’s Asia policy, but its prospects for ratification by USA lawmakers remain uncertain. China views control of the waters, with their abundant underwater oil deposits and strategic shipping lanes, as key to its rise as a major economic and military power. Although the USA president did not mention China by name, the objective of making the announcement in such a manner was to show China that Washington will not be intimidated by Beijing’s aggressive policies in the South China Sea. The Chinese president also condemned the murders of a Chinese hostage and a Norwegian hostage by Islamic State. Just because Mr. Obama thinks so doesn’t mean he’s right. The agreement will enable the sale and transfer of sophisticated Japanese military hardware and technology to the Philippines.
Beijing has overlapping claims with Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia, Taiwan and Brunei in the South China Sea, through which $5 trillion in shipborne trade passes every year. “Our presence can reassure countries that these disputes are going to be solved consistent with the rules and not through one big nation bullying a smaller one”, he told reporters in Manila.
On Thursday, Obama demanded China halt land reclamation work that is turning seven reefs into artificial islands.
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In Manila this week, Obama said the US was giving the Philippines two more ships to protect its borders, then called on China to stop reclamation and construction.
