This weekend, China and Russian Federation start military exercises in the South China Sea.
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The Philippines said on Wednesday it was “gravely concerned” that Chinese boats were preparing to build structures at a disputed shoal in the South China Sea, shattering an appearance of cordiality at an Asian summit in Laos.
China, Taiwan, the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia and Brunei claim parts or all of the resource-rich South China Sea.
Asean leaders released a statement on Wednesday saying they were “seriously concerned” over recent developments in the sea.
The issue of ownership of territories in the South China Sea has come to dominate ASEAN summit meetings in recent years.
“The partnership between ASEAN and China must, I stress, be able to contribute to peace [.] to stability [.] and to security in the South China Sea”, Jokowi said during the ASEAN-China Summit.
Instead, the President said Asean member-states should be “on the side of peace” in dealing with their overlapping territorial claims.
Laotian Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith (5th L) and Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong (4th R) cut a commemorative cake as they attend a ceremony to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the establishment of China-ASEAN dialogue relations, in Vientiane, Laos, Sept. 7, 2016.
“We moved past that (arbitration) issue during the July China-ASEAN foreign ministers meeting, we hope that such countries won’t keep bringing up things of the past to stir up trouble and affect China-ASEAN relations”.
“When I think back to the time I spent here as a boy, I can’t help but be struck by the extraordinary progress that’s been made by the region in the decades since, even if there’s still a lot of work to be done”, Obama said.
UNITED States President Barack Obama said Thursday that China could not ignore the worldwide tribunal ruling that nullified its claims over expansive territories in the South China Sea as it threatens regional security.
A couple of hours before the meeting, the Philippines’ defence ministry released photographs and a map spotting the Chinese vessels near Scarborough Shoal. But, Beijing rejected the judgment.
In July, the United Nations arbitration court dismissed China’s territorial claims in the South China Sea, saying it has “no historic title” to the vast maritime region.
“The President looks forward to ironing out differences arising out of the national priorities and perceptions, and working in mutually responsible ways for both countries”, Martin Andanar, the Philippines’ Presidential Communications Secretary said.
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe met Tuesday with Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte and agreed to gift the Philippines two large patrol ships and five surveillance aircraft, according to Reuters.
Li made no direct mention of Scarborough Shoal in the comments provided by the foreign ministry. China took control of Scarborough shoal in 2012 after a standoff with the Philippine Navy. “We should be highly alert against the mischief-making intentions of people who spread such groundless information in such situations”.
The Philippines took its dispute with China to the global tribunal some years ago, but the country’s new president, Rodrigo Duterte, who took office on June 30, has been more conciliatory toward China.
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An artificial island at Scarborough Shoal could be a game changer in China’s quest to control the sea and raises the risk of armed confrontation with the U.S., according to security analysts.
