The Yomiuri ShimbunEnsuring freedom of navigation, not allowing attempts to unilaterally alter the status quo and seeking to resolve disputes in line with worldwide law – we want to see such a rule of law established in the South China Sea. China has built seven such islands in the disputed, resource-rich sea, alarming neighbors and rival claimants, including the Philippines.
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The United States and Japan urged China on Thursday to resolve disputes in the South China Sea (West Philippine Sea) with the Philippines and other smaller neighbors in line with an arbitration ruling in July that invalidated Beijing’s claims to nearly the whole of the sea.
Wednesday by China’s foreign ministry about the meeting, Li was paraphrased as saying China was willing to work with Asean countries in “dispelling interference … and properly handling the South China Sea issue”.
Obama urged China to recognize the decision of the Permanent Court of Arbitration on the South China Sea dispute, labeling it as “binding”.
“The US and Japanese statements reflect Asean sentiments and act as surrogate voices to their fundamental positions”, he said. The final version was not immediately released.
“I recognise this raises tensions but I also look forward to discussing how we can constructively move forward together to lower tensions and promote diplomacy and stability”.
Liu Zhenmin did not identify any countries, but was responding to a question from a reporter about whether the leaders of Japan and the United States had raised concerns about the South China Sea. “In some sense they are being self-isolated”, he said.
Chinese Premier Li Keqiang is also in Laos this week, with ASEAN hosting a series of regional meetings, and gathered with Obama later Thursday at an 18-nation East Asia summit.
Hua Chunying said that the ASEAN meetings have produced the steps needed to get the Declaration on the Code of Conduct in the South China Sea finalised.
“Several Leaders remained seriously concerned over recent developments in the South China Sea”. Obama said the presence of the USA military in the area is aimed at upholding the navigation rights of other nations in the disputed area, adding that they would be there for as long as global law allows.
If China did build an island at the shoal, it could lead to a military outpost just 230 kilometres (140 miles) from the main Philippine island, where U.S. forces are stationed.
After the summit, Li attended a press conference for the Joint Leaders’ Statement on the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership.
Obama assured ASEAN leaders that the United States would continue to help ensure the peaceful resolution of their territorial disputes.
The other ASEAN nations are Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Myanmar, Singapore and Thailand.
China pulled out all the stops to block any reference to the words “recent activities”, “serious concern”, “reclamation”, “militarization”, “loss of trust” and “need to respect legal processes”, but failed as all these phrases made it into the statement, said a senior USA administration official who requested anonymity to discuss diplomatic discussions. But there was no row over the issue at the summit. China claims virtually the entire sea as its own, citing historical reasons. Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan also have claims.
The Chinese ships were at Scarborough Shoal, a small fishing ground within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone that China took control of in 2012.
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Liu, the Chinese vice foreign minister, pointed that out. “We are confident that the relations between us will be improved with the joint efforts of the two countries”, he said.
