China rejects US call for ‘freeze’
Print Edition
A US proposal for a freeze on “provocative acts” in the South China Sea has been rebuffed by China and got a cool response from the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations.
The United States was using a regional meeting in Myanmar at the weekend to step up its engagement in maritime disputes in the South China Sea.
US Secretary of State John Kerry arrived in Myanmar’s capital Naypyidaw on Saturday for the two-day ASEAN Regional Forum, joining foreign ministers and other diplomats from China, Russia, Japan, India, Australia, the European Union and Southeast Asia among others.
“The United States and ASEAN have a common responsibility to ensure the maritime security of critical sea, lands and ports,” Kerry said in his opening comments.
“We need to work together to manage tensions in the South China Sea and to manage them peacefully, and also to manage them on the basis of international law.”
But Le Luong Minh, secretary-general of the ASEAN, said that the US proposal was not discussed by ASEAN ministers because there was already a mechanism in place to curtail sensitive action such as land reclamation and building on disputed islands in the area.
He said that it was up to the ASEAN to work with China to reduce tension by improving compliance with a 2002 agreement, as they also work to conclude a binding Code of Conduct for maritime actions.
Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines and Vietnam also lay claim to parts of the South China Sea.
“It is up to ASEAN to encourage China to achieve a serious and effective implementation of this commitment, rather than ASEAN asking whether it should support or not support the (US) proposal,” he said.
China rejects US involvement in the dispute and has already dismissed the proposal for a freeze. China accuses the US of emboldening claimants such as the Philippines and Vietnam with its military “pivot” back to Asia.
“Currently the situation in the South China Sea is stable on the whole. There has not been any problem regarding navigation in the South China Sea,” Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi told reporters.
“Someone has been exaggerating or playing up the so-called tensions in the South China Sea. We don’t agree with such a practice.”
Wang warned that “the Chinese side is bound to make clear and firm reactions” if provoked.
Wang held a bilateral meeting with Kerry on Saturday.
In a statement released by the Chinese Embassy in Myanmar following the talks, China welcomed “the constructive role” played by the US in regional affairs, adding that it “hopes that the US can respect China’s legitimate rights and interests in this region.”
In a statement by foreign ministers yesterday, the ASEAN said it was “seriously concerned” over the maritime disputes in the South China Sea.
“We urged all parties concerned to exercise self-restraint and avoid actions which would complicate the situation and undermine peace, stability, and security,” it said.
The ASEAN groups Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 沪ICP证：沪ICP备05050403号-1
- |
- 互联网新闻信息服务许可证：31120180004
- |
- 网络视听许可证：0909346
- |
- 广播电视节目制作许可证：沪字第354号
- |
- 增值电信业务经营许可证：沪B2-20120012
Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
