A UN-backed tribunal ruled in July that China’s claims to nearly all of the South China Sea had no legal basis and its construction of artificial islands in disputed waters was illegal.
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“We also undertake to exercise self-restraint in the conduct of activities that would complicate or escalate disputes and affect peace and stability”, the statement added. They are known as the Senkakus in Japanand as the Diaoyus in China.
China has claims to areas which are also claimed by Brunei, the Philippines, Malaysia, Vietnam and Taiwan.
If true, it would be China’s first artificial island building in the hotly contested shoal.
Southeast Asian leaders are likely to avoid any official mention at a summit this week of an arbitration ruling that shot down China’s expansive territorial claims in the South China Sea (SCS), according to a draft of their final declaration, in a victory for Beijing’s diplomatic clout.
Before a meeting of Asean leaders and China Wednesday, Duterte shook hands with Premier Li Keqiang.
“There is no indication at the preparatory ASEAN SOM yet as to what, if anything, the Philippines would raise at the summit regarding the South China Sea”, Sek said.
“It’s being clarified”, presidential spokesman Ernesto Abella told reporters in Vientiane, Laos.
Duterte said last week that the Philippine coast guard has sighted Chinese barges at Scarborough, which he said could presage the transformation of the Chinese-held reef into another man-made island.
The use of the phrase “some leaders” in the statement underscores the fundamental problem ASEAN has had in dealing with China – not all of its members are willing to scold it. Cambodia remains firmly in China’s camp, as is Laos to a large extent, preventing any robust statement from the consensus-bound group.
“There were four Chinese coastguard ships and six other vessels, including blue-coloured barges, around Scarborough Shoal”.
Manila filed the case in January 2013 after China took control of Scarborough Shoal, 124 nautical miles from the Philippines’ north-western coast.
The Philippines’ defence ministry released pictures on Wednesday showing what it said were Chinese boats near a disputed shoal in the South China Sea, just hours before Southeast Asian nations were due to meet China’s premier at a summit in Laos. The U.S., a treaty ally of the Philippines, had not been directly informed, he said.
Asked about a potential military buildup on Scarborough, Carter said June 4: “I hope that this development doesn’t occur because it will result in actions being taken by both United States and by others in the region which would have the effect of not only increasing tensions but isolating China”.
“Most believed China would wait until after this week’s G20 meetings, or even after the US presidential election, to make any move”.
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The tribunal in its ruling said China had no legal basis to claim historic rights to resources within the sea areas.
