Forum host Malaysia has agreed to include a mention of the South China Sea in the final statement, said a Philippine defense official travelling with the defense minister.
Advertisement
Tensions in the South China Sea have mounted as a U.S. Navy destroyer last month entered waters within 12 nautical miles (22 km) of an artificial island China has created in the disputed Spratly Islands, prompting Beijing to express its “resolute opposition” to moves that threaten Chinese sovereignty.
The official added: “This was an ASEAN decision but, in our view, no statement is better than one that avoids the important issue of China’s reclamation and militarisation in the South China”.
Disagreement between the United States and China over how to address rival claims in the South China Sea marred a gathering of Southeast Asian defense officials on Wednesday, with a joint statement scrapped after ministers failed to agree on its wording.
On the sidelines of the meeting, USA defence secretary Ashton Carter met with his Chinese counterpart Chang Wanquan on Tuesday.
Report: Minister of National Defense Han Min-koo said it is the firm position of South Korea that a peaceful resolution should be sought to disputes in the South China Sea and that freedom of navigation and flight should be guaranteed.
Malaysia, the Philippines, Vietnam, Brunei and Taiwan also have various claims over the controversial islets, a few overlapping, although none are as extensive as Beijing’s. “Not thoughts on paper”, Hishammuddin said.
Carter said his visit and the presence of the hulking warship should not be seen as a new twist to the US naval presence is Asia.
An Asean official confirmed to AFP that there would be no joint declaration, but that Malaysia would issue a chairman’s statement that is likely to touch on the maritime issues.
China did not accept the draft of the declaration which mentioned the establishment of a Code of Conduct (COC) of Parties in the South China Sea that will govern the activities of the countries involved in the territorial dispute in the region.
Southeast Asian countries will work with China on the Belt and Road initiative, a senior Malaysian minister said Thursday. “To me, that says that’s something we all need to pay attention to”.
Beijing perceives USA actions, Freeman argued, as an attempt to deny China the security in its immediate periphery that the United States demands for itself.
Pointing fingers, the United States and China could not reach an agreement.
Chang clarified the truth and China’s stand on the issue of South China Sea and the freedom of navigation, hoping that the Australian side could adhere to an objective and fair stand and distinguish the right and wrong, carefully cope with related issues, and jointly maintain the peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific region.
It follows concerns China is trying to establish 12-mile territorial zones around the islands by building airstrips and other military facilities.
Li made the comments in Beijing on Wednesday to a delegation of more than 200 business representatives from Japan invited to visit China by the State Council, or Cabinet, which he oversees, China’s Foreign Ministry said late on Wednesday.
Advertisement
During my week stay at the Air War Collage, the major theme was the study of China’s increasing belligerence in its efforts to expand influence and control of the South China Sea and its resources.
