Asean ‘needs to foster long-term perspective’ on S China Sea dispute

YUXI (CHINA) — Continuing Beijing’s push to ease concerns about its ­assertions of sovereignty over the South China Sea, China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi told his counterparts from the Association of South-east Asian Nations (Asean) on Tuesday (June 14) that both sides should take a “long-term perspective” as they try to solve their disputes.

“We should review our relationship with strategic height and long-term perspective,” Mr Wang told the foreign ministers at the Special Asean-China Foreign Ministers Meeting.

“We should keep on expanding our consensus and cooperation and properly handle and control our differences. We should jointly lead and push forward the China-Asean relationship toward a healthy and stable development.”

Mr Wang’s comments underscore China’s desire to contain damage to its reputation over its assertiveness in the South China Sea. China claims almost all of the energy-rich South China Sea. The Philippines, Brunei, Vietnam, Malaysia and Taiwan have overlapping claims.

China’s assertiveness in the disputed waterway has led the United States to conduct freedom of navigation ­operations through an area that carries US$5.3 trillion (S$7.2 trillion) of global trade a year.

The Special Asean-China Foreign Ministers Meeting was co-chaired by both Mr Wang and his Singaporean counterpart, Dr Vivian Balakrishnan, and discussed recent developments in the South China Sea.

A press statement from Singapore’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) ­issued on Tuesday evening said the foreign ministers highlighted the need to intensify efforts to achieve further progress in the implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea and substantive development of the Code of Conduct.

The code will set guidelines for parties involved in disputes to manage tensions and avoid conflict.

According to the statement, Dr Balakrishnan noted the serious concerns expressed by the Asean foreign ministers over the developments on the ground and called on Asean and China to continue working together to maintain the peace and stability of the South China Sea.

“Minister Balakrishnan also reiterated Singapore’s long-standing position on the issue and underscored the importance of the peaceful resolution of disputes with full respect for legal and diplomatic processes, as well as the right of freedom of navigation and over-flight under international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea,” said the statement.

Singapore is the current country coordinator of Asean-China dialogue relations.

The MFA’s statement also said that during the meeting, the foreign ministers reviewed the progress of ­Asean-China relations and discussed the future direction and priority ­areas of cooperation.

The foreign ministers also discussed the preparations for the Asean-China Commemorative Summit in Laos in September this year to celebrate 25 years of Dialogue Relations.

“Minister Balakrishnan reaffirmed Singapore’s commitment to work closely with Asean Member States and China to advance the mutually beneficial relationship,” the MFA statement added.

Meanwhile, China expressed thanks on Tuesday for the dozens of countries it claims have offered support for its position on a case brought by the Philippines over Chinese claims in the South China Sea, saying that they are speaking out to uphold justice.

Manila has brought a case before a United Nations arbitration panel challenging Beijing’s claim to virtually the entire South China Sea. China has refused to recognise the case and says all disputes should be resolved through bilateral talks.

The Chinese government claimed that more than 40 countries have offered support for its position, the latest ­being the African nations of Sierra Leone and Kenya.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang said certain unidentified countries had been trying to blacken China’s name over the South China Sea, confusing right for wrong and trying to control public opinion.

“Against this backdrop, certain friendly countries which care about China want to understand what’s ­really going on,” Mr Lu told a daily news briefing on Tuesday.

“Once they’ve worked out the rights and wrongs and gotten the whole story, a fair few countries are willing to speak out from a sense of justice. We express appreciation and thanks for this. It shows that a just cause enjoys abundant support and people have a sense of natural justice.”

While a small number of countries wanted to blacken China’s name on this issue, they cannot be said to represent the international community, he added. AGENCIES