An worldwide arbitration court has already ruled in a case initiated by the Philippines that China’s nine-dash line claim over a large part of the South China Sea has no basis in global law.
Advertisement
The Philippine government asked China’s ambassador in Manila about the sighting of the Chinese barges, but the envoy denied any island building was under way, the official said.
Beijing has rejected the ruling and continued its activities.
“Chinese Naval and Coast Guard presence in the vicinity of Scarborough Reef was within the levels we’ve observed there over the past several months”, the official said.
“Australia doesn’t need to take a front seat we just need to back the position of those other countries”.
Earlier, Foreign Affairs Assistant Secretary for Asean Affairs Maria Helen dela Vega said Asean and China in their multi-lateral discussions will be adopting a “Code for Unplanned Encounters at Sea [CUES]”, in efforts to de-escalate tensions over the disputed waters. China has built seven such islands in the disputed, resource-rich sea, alarming neighbors and rival claimants.
The Philippines Defense Ministry published photos of 11 Chinese ships near Scarborough Shoal that include vessels that some reports indicated appear designed for dredging operations – a key indicator Beijing is ignoring USA and global calls for a halt to island-building on disputed reefs and islands.
“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.
The South China Sea dispute was tackled at the closed-door meeting with some of the leaders, including Duterte, who reiterated calls for the conflicts to be resolved peacefully and in accordance with global law, Communications Secretary Martin Andanar said.
The ASEAN-China Summit is part of the ASEAN Plus Three Summit, with the likes of India PM Narendra Modi and US President Barack Obama in attendance.
An outpost at the shoal would also put Chinese fighter jets and missiles within easy striking distance of U.S. forces stationed in the Philippines.
China has sought to bolster its claims by building a network of artificial islands capable of supporting military operations.
“It’s about time that they should consider the privilege of the Filipinos”, Duterte said then.
The use of the phrase “some leaders” in the two statements underscores the fundamental problem ASEAN and the wider East Asia Summit has in dealing with China – not all its members are willing to scold Beijing.
Duterte has taken a more conciliatory stance than his predecessor toward China. That has pitted it against the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia and Brunei, all members of ASEAN, which have overlapping claims.
Advertisement
Indonesia criticized China even before the tribunal ruling, objecting to incursions by Chinese fishing vessels into Jakarta’s exclusive economic zone around the Natuna archipelago.
