China had scored a diplomatic victory when a watered-down joint statement from the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations did not criticize China for its actions in the South China Sea and did not mention a tribunal ruling that eviscerated China’s historic claims to the waters.
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He also demanded that Japan be careful of what it says about South China Sea matters, calling for Tokyo not to repeat mistakes, according to China News Service, a news agency.
China and a collection of Southeast Asian countries have resumed talks to put this whole Hague Tribunal ruling on the South China Sea behind them, after Beijing swiftly rejected the court’s judgement earlier this month.
China’s dismissal of the court ruling as illegitimate presented a challenge, Kerry said.
China, in turn, has said nations should not develop and inhabit “presently uninhabited” islands and reefs, which is being taken as a signal that Beijing might ease up on reclaiming territory and building military installations, in the interest of easing tensions.
“We would like to pursue bilateral relationships in so far as the peaceful resolution of the dispute is concerned that is between the China and the Philippines“.
A statement from China’s Wang Yi said Wednesday that the trilateral statement “is fanning the flames” at a time when “regional countries are determined to enhance cooperation and want to see the South China Sea situation cool down”.
Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan also have claims to the South China Sea, a vital waterway through which $5 trillion in annual trade passes – it is also believed to sit atop vast reserves of oil and gas. “The EDCA will help us prepare for the humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations and contribute to our AFP modernization efforts”, said Yasay in a press conference.
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi(right) meets with US Secretary of State John Kerry in Vientiane, capital of Laos, July 25, 2016.
Speaking before reporters, Presidential Spokesperson Ernesto Abella said that the cash assistance was promised by US Secretary of State John Kerry during the latter’s courtesy call to President Rodrigo Duterte.
“China and Philippines are both signatories to United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (Unclos) and consistently expressed adherence to global law and abiding commitment to Unclos”, Yasay said in a press briefing on Wednesday.
“We will begin with the ruling – that will be the foundation”, said Duterte’s spokesman, Ernesto Abella. “We are hoping that China will come up with a position that will allow these bilateral talks to proceed”.
It sends out a positive message that China and the ASEAN will jointly maintain stability in the South China Sea, Wang said.
China’s official Xinhua News Agency said Fan, the general, told Rice that China opposed the tribunal’s ruling and “would continue to provide strong backing to safeguarding China’s national territorial sovereignty and security”.
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“Now it is the time to test whether you are peacekeepers or troublemakers”, said Mr Wang, referring to the three countries.
