Philippines’ Foreign Minister Perfecto Yasay said yesterday that Manila had “vigorously pushed” for the inclusion of a comment on the arbitration ruling in the Asean statement this week but did not want to press the issue and risk dividing the group or provoke China.
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Along with the United States, Japan has been trying to establish an global coalition to call on China to respect the court of arbitration ruling by cooperating with countries that respect the rule of law and worldwide order. Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan also have claims to the disputed waters. Their foreign ministers both discussed the ruling with ASEAN counterparts in the Laotian capital.
Efforts to forge a united ASEAN front on the issue have crumbled in recent years as mainland China has successfully lobbied Cambodia and Laos, which are members of the bloc but mainland allies.
In a meeting with his Chinese counterpart, Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida urged Beijing to comply with an worldwide tribunal ruling that denied China’s sweeping claims in the South China Sea.
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi later described his meeting with the ASEAN ministers as “positive”, adding that “only one country mentioned the arbitration case”.
The two issues are not related, he said, reiterating an earlier assertion from the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA).
However he said the statement was a “victory” for ASEAN, as it referred to upholding principles of global law. Before the meeting, Cambodia argued against the wording in the statement which established a deadlock in the dispute.
“I expect the conversation to include more exploration on the question of what a constructive, positive and peaceful and lawful path forward looks like”, the USA official said, adding that the Philippines had behaved with restraint since the court ruling. “It is the same story again, a repeat of the meeting in 2012”. The two leaders are scheduled to meet in Manila on Wednesday. Instead ASEAN and China reaffirmed their commitment to maintain peace and stability in the South China Sea through the framework of the declaration of Conduct of Parties (DOC).
Japan’s Foreign Minister Fumiko Kishida will also be in Laos for the ASEAN regional forum meeting.
China, meanwhile, has accused the Philippines of having “deliberately mischaracterized” disputes in the sea, declaring the court’s award “null and void”, saying it had no binding force. In April, China denied a request from the aircraft carrier John C. Stennis (CVN-74) to make a port visit to Hong Kong, apparently over USA actions in the disputed South China Sea, the Associated Press reported at the time.
Beijing claims sovereignty over most of the South China Sea, through which more than $5 trillion of trade moves annually.
But Kerry will urge ASEAN nations to explore diplomatic ways to ease tension over Asia’s biggest potential military flashpoint, a senior USA official said ahead of his trip.
Mr. Singh called for deepening security cooperation based on an outright rejection of state-sponsored terrorism while de-linking religion from terrorism besides isolating those who harbour, support, finance or sponsor terrorists, without distinguishing between “good” or “bad” terrorists.
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In it, the countries recognise that peace and stability in the region serve the fundamental interests of ASEAN member states and China. Kerry is the first US cabinet member to pay a visit to Manila under the new administration, Manila-based GMA News reported.
