“I realize this raises tensions”, Obama said as he met with ASEAN leader, referring to a recent global arbitration ruling against China on the maritime dispute.
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President Rodrigo “Rody” Duterte, together with some Cabinet members and business leaders, poses for a photo at the 13th ASEAN Business and Investment Summit in Moung Thanh Luxury Hotel in Vientiane, Laos on Tuesday (September 6, 2016).
The East Asia statement to be released later Thursday was also going to give a muted response, according to a draft obtained by AFP. Duterte said his country seeks closer ties with the United States.
China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokeswoman Hua Chunying criticized Obama’s remarks as betraying the U.S.’s supposedly neutral stance on the arbitration, and said that if regional nations were “truly concerned about peace and stability in the South China Sea, [they would] support China” in the dispute, state-run news agency Xinhua reported.
Najib said all the countries also concurred that no action should be taken that could create tension in the maritime region.
China lashed out at the United States and Japan on Thursday, accusing the two allies of trying to foment discord between Beijing and its Southeast Asian neighbours over lingering tensions in the South China Sea. “We stressed the importance for the parties concerned to resolve their disputes by peaceful means, in accordance with universally recognized principles of worldwide laws”, it said.
China has recently developed shoals and coral reefs into seven islands with massive land reclamation work.
The East Asia Summit draft statement was less forceful than the statement that ASEAN leaders issued on Wednesday to express concern over China’s island-building.
Other ASEAN members include Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Myanmar, Singapore and Thailand.
Since then, the US has been stating that China should uphold the tribunal’s verdict.
In a victory for Beijing’s diplomatic, economic and military clout, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations couldn’t even get all of its 10 members to agree that China was responsible for building islands in the disputed and resource-rich sea.
“Countries in the region are the biggest beneficiaries of peace in the South China Sea”. China claims virtually the entire sea as its own, citing historical reasons. Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan have contesting claims on these waters.
Obama has urged China to adhere to the rule of law and not take unilateral measures that could raise tension.
Vice Foreign Minister Liu Zhenmin said yesterday it had been “inappropriate” for two countries, which he did not name, to bring up the arbitration issue during the summit.
Relations were severely strained under Duterte’s predecessor because of the conflict. Both the Philippines and China are signatories to the convention.
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“Noting the huge potential of the RCEP to foster global and regional trade and growth, we urged our experts to redouble efforts toward achieving a modern, comprehensive, high-quality and mutually beneficial economic partnership agreement”, the draft statement said.
