Pic: ReutersLONDON: A British MP has complained about appearing in a video promoting Beijing’s claims in the disputed South China Sea, saying she was “deeply concerned” that her words had been misrepresented.
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Mr. Sounry’s remark directly contradicted a statement on Wednesday by the Philippines’ foreign minister, Perfecto Yasay, who said his country “vigorously pushed” for inclusion of the ruling it won against Beijing, but backed down in the interest of regional unity.
The U.S. says it is encouraged by the willingness of China and the Philippines to engage in direct dialogue over the South China Sea following a tribunal ruling against Beijing earlier this month. The target was the United States, which asked China to abide by the ruling and shares quite a disturbed equation with the latter over issues–both strategic and economic.
China and Russian Federation are set to drill in the South China Sea in September, according an announcement from Beijing.
China’s defense-ministry spokesman, Senior Col. Yang Yujun, gave few details at a monthly news conference on Thursday but said the drills were “routine” and not directed at any other countries. “Most foreign media view the communique as a triumph for China’s diplomacy”, state-run Global Times said in an editorial. China rejects the decision that threw out its argument for control over nearly all of the South China Sea but, as we hear from Neal Conan in the Pacific News minute, so far all sides have tried to restrain tensions.
The trilateral statement urged China not to construct military outposts and reclaim land in the disputed waters, making a strong show of support for Southeast Asian nations that have territorial disputes with Beijing in the area.
“The US Navy will continue to conduct routine and lawful operations around the world, including in the South China Sea, in order to protect the rights, freedoms and lawful uses of sea and airspace guaranteed to all”, he said last week, as cited by Reuters.
But they have often found common cause in blocking initiatives from the USA and its allies on the U.N. Security Council, where they are both among the five veto-wielding permanent members.
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China claims most of the major trade route, including areas that are the sovereign territory of Vietnam, Taiwan, Brunei, Malaysia, and the Philippines. As for the so called for the arbitration of south china sea award brought unilaterally by former government of one country, China states time and again its stand of non-acceptance, non-participation, and non-exclusion.
