Liu was referring to a July ruling by a court in The Hague that declared illegal some of China’s artificial islands in the sea and invalidated its claims to nearly the entire waterway. “With regards to security, our nations reaffirmed our commitment to a regional order, where global rules and laws are upheld and where disagreements are all peacefully resolved”.
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At a meeting in Laos of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, Obama says a recent U.N. tribunal ruling against China is binding and clarifies the maritime rights issue.
Obama’s remarks came amid allegations by the Philippine government that China was again engaged in reclamation activities in Panatag Shoal, located well within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone, after a flotilla of sea vessels was spotted in the area.
The Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague issued a ruling on July 12, invalidating China’s “nine-dash line”, through which Beijing claims nearly all of the South China Sea.
The ruling also said that a massive burst of artificial island-building activity undertaken by China in recent years in a bid to bolster its claims was illegal.
China rejected the verdict, questioning the legality of the tribunal even as the United States said it is a valid judgement to be implemented by all parties concerned.
“It seems that every country played down the level of conflict, therefore the tone of the meeting was quite friendly and emphasized peace and security within the region”, said Major General Weerachon Sukhondhapatipak, a Thai government spokesman.
But the Philippines yesterday released images it said showed Chinese ships in the area that were capable of dredging sand and other activities required to build an artificial island.
“Basically, he was avoiding mentioning July’s arbitration ruling about the South China Sea which was in favour of the Philippines”.
The leaders stressed the need for ASEAN members and China to ensure the full and effective implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea, signed by the grouping and China in 2002, in its entirety.
ASEAN held a separate meeting later Thursday with eight world powers, including China and the U.S, in a gathering known as the East Asia Summit.
The Philippine concern about the shoal comes after a dispute with the United States, its main ally.
The U.S. military has also expressed concerns over the possibility that China might turn Scarborough into another island, something that would give Beijing’s forces control over a swathe of the South China Sea used as a passageway to the Taiwan Strait. “We are confident that the relations between us will be improved with the joint efforts of the two countries”, he said.
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President Obama’s visit was his eighth to an ASEAN summit, reflecting the region’s growing importance.
