In their summit, the leaders of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations voiced concerns about the current situation in the South China Sea.
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“In the past 30 years, the relationship has been very smooth, it’s only in the past few years, because of some problems known to all, the relationship has been affected”, he said.
“Only two countries are still sowing dissension, focusing on the South China Sea disputes and bringing up the arbitration case”, Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Liu Zhenmin told reporters after the summit.
This week’s summit skirted any mention of the South China Sea, after Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte said ahead of the meetings that he would not press the issue.
China claims much of the South China Sea, through which more than $5 trillion of trade moves annually.
Nevertheless, Obama said on Thursday that the Hague ruling had helped clarify maritime rights.
“We do not have internal interference from other countries and can not allow any countries to violate Cambodian integrity and territorial sovereignty”, he said, defending Cambodia’s request to keep the South China Sea off the table during a meeting of the Asean Interparliamentary Assembly.
“I recognize this (dispute) raises tensions, but I also look forward to discussing how we can constructively move forward together to lower tensions and promote diplomacy and stability”, Hua added.
Some countries outside the region, displaying a Cold War mentality, have attempted to meddle in issues in the region, breaking the original regional balance and sowing discord between China and ASEAN members in recent years.
Officials said talks between Southeast Asian leaders and Chinese Premier Li Keqiang went smoothly. That leaves it vulnerable to lobbying by countries such as China, which diplomats have said uses its economic sway over poorer nations like Cambodia and Laos to limit criticism.
“Countries in the region are the biggest beneficiaries of peace in the South China Sea”. He noted that the U.S. would continue to ensure that countries laying claims to the disputed region would not militarize and occupy uninhabited islands.
China, the strongest power in the region has continued to re-claim land on several disputed reefs through dredging, and building airfields and port facilities – while objecting to what it calls “interference” from countries outside.
But, hours before the meeting, the Philippines’ Defense Ministry released photographs and a map showing what it said was an increased number of Chinese vessels near Scarborough Shoal, which China seized after a standoff in 2012.
The Philippine move came after a dispute with the United States, its former colonial power.
The two leaders made some steps towards clearing the air late on Wednesday, however, chatting briefly, and exchanging pleasantries as they prepared to take their seats at a leaders’ dinner.
If China did build an island at the shoal, it could lead to a military outpost just 230 kilometres (140 miles) from the main Philippine island, where United States forces are stationed.
The US says it has no position on the territorial disputes but wants to ensure freedom of navigation.
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Security analysts have said Chinese island-building at Scarborough Shoal could trigger a military confrontation.
