Russian President Vladamir Putin has gone on-record this week saying the Russian government supports China’s position of not recognizing the International Court of Arbitration’s recent ruling on the South China Sea.
Advertisement
The Philippines said earlier on Wednesday it was “gravely concerned” that Chinese boats were preparing to build structures at a disputed shoal in the South China Sea, upsetting the diplomatic peace at the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) summit in Vientiane.
US President Barack Obama warned Beijing Thursday it could not ignore a tribunal’s ruling rejecting its sweeping claims to the South China Sea, driving tensions higher in a territorial row that threatens regional security.
Sisoulith says the the recurring topic of the talks in Vientiane reaffirms the need to “respect freedom of navigation” in the disputed waters amid China’s alleged harassment of the fishermen in the area.
However, he expressed alarm after a Philippine surveillance plane recently spotted four Chinese coast guard ships, four suspected barges, including one equipped with what appeared to be a crane, and two people-carrying ferries at the Scarborough Shoal off his country’s northwestern coast. China took control of Scarborough shoal in 2012 after a standoff with the Philippine Navy, and has since deployed large fishing fleets while blocking Filipino fishermen.
In July, an arbitration court in The Hague ruled that China has no legal basis to claim historic rights to resources in the South China Sea.
Duterte is seeking to boost ties with China in the face of a dispute between Manila and Beijing over the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea).
However, Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Liu Zhenmin said the discussion on the conflict at the event was “untimely and inappropriate”.
Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong pointed out that the South China Sea issue could be turned into the region’s advantage by placing importance on “common goals”, Andanar said.
He said the USA wants to build on its partnership with Southeast Asia and to promote a “rules-based order” in the region.
The US President’s statement came during a meeting with leaders of ASEAN member states.
“The trend to resolve differences will be good, there is now positive direction in our relations, and the (code of) conduct in the South China Sea should happen next year after the framework of the Code of Conduct has been dealt with by the ASEAN region”, he reportedly added. Beijing this week insisted it had not started building at the shoal – a move that could lead to a military outpost just 230km from the main Philippine island, where U.S. forces are stationed.
Advertisement
An outpost at the shoal would also put Chinese fighter jets within easy striking distance of U.S. forces stationed in the Philippines.
