Cambodia advised a grouping of South East Asian nations to avoid using words that “would escalate tension between China and the Philippines” in a weekend statement, the country’s foreign ministry said on Wednesday.
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“At the same time, and I want to be equally clear about this, we urge all the claimants to exercise restraint and to work to reduce tensions”, Kerry said.
The United States had earlier on Monday urged ASEAN to make a reference to the July 12 ruling by The Hague-based Permanent Court of Arbitration, in which US ally Manila won an emphatic legal victory over China on the dispute.
A joint statement by the three allies, issued late Monday, provided an important boost for the Philippines, Vietnam and Malaysia’s territorial claims in the area after the 10-nation Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) bloc failed to criticize China because of internal disunity.
Reuters reported that the deadlock at the ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting “was broken only when the Philippines withdrew its request to mention the ruling in the face of resolute objections from Cambodia, China’s closest ASEAN ally”.
Cambodia’s support for China’s position on an global court ruling denying the Asian giant’s claims in the South China Sea handed Beijing a diplomatic victory when the grouping’s ministers met on Sunday. “The others are not concerned with that dispute”, Yasay told reporters.
United States Secretary of State John Kerry has called on China to respect the ruling on a case filed by the Philippines regarding disputed parts of South China Sea, saying it is legally binding.
But an absence of a reference to the court decision in the ASEAN statement dealt a blow to Japanese diplomacy.
Kerry said the United States supported the Philippines in its “responsible and measured way” of responding to the South China Sea tensions.
On Tuesday, Kerry became the first foreign minister to meet Duterte since he assumed the presidency on June 30. A lack of mention of an worldwide tribunal’s recent ruling favouring the Philippines showed an understanding that sensitive issues should not get in the way of progress.
A Chinese H-6K bomber patrols the islands and reefs in the South China Sea.
Speaking about his visit in Laos, Kerry said that he would encourage Philippine President Duterte to engage in dialogue with Beijing.
“We hope to learn more from President Duterte about his thinking in connection with protecting human rights, civil rights, and maintaining the rule of law in law enforcement”, the official added.
But Kerry said the United States saw an “opportunity” for claimants to peacefully resolve the row. China has dismissed the Hague ruling as “politically motivated, illegal, and irrelevant”, as the AP summarizes.
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“We likewise remain confident that through this military cooperation we would improve our joint humanitarian assistance and disaster relief efforts”, Andanar said in welcoming the decision. He wrapped up his brief public remarks to that meeting by noting “how much can be accomplished when we work together, invest in the future, and perhaps most importantly support the rules-based system that has led to steadily increased peace and prosperity for almost 50 years now”.
