Foreign ministers urge restraint in S China Sea

Tension in the South China Sea was discussed at the meeting of foreign ministers of the East Asia Summit (EAS) and the Asean Regional Forum (ARF) yesterday. 

The issue had been heating up during the rounds of Asean ministerial meetings since Monday as the 10-member regional grouping made efforts to use diplomatic means to settle the conflict between regional powerhouse China and many of its members, notably the Philippines and Vietnam, which were in dispute recently.

The Asean ministerial meeting, which ends today, brought together 27 countries, including dialogue partners of the group, for discussions in different forums. The US, which is a dialogue partner of the Asean as well as a member of the EAS and the ARF, has shifted its policy to have more presence and engagement in the Asia-Pacific. 

Washington made it clear that it wanted to have some say in the conflict in the South China Sea. US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said Asian countries should “work collaboratively and diplomatically to resolve disputes without coercion, without intimidation, without threats and without use of force.”

“The United States has no territorial claims there and we do not take sides in disputes about territorial or maritime boundaries,” she said. “But we do have an interest in freedom of navigation, the maintenance of peace and stability, respect for international law and unimpeded lawful commerce in the South China Sea.”

Philippine Foreign Secretary Albert del Rosario said at the EAS foreign ministers’ meeting that aggression by some countries against Philippines’ sovereignty would affect cooperation in the EAS and the whole region.

Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi said briefly at the EAS meeting that the disputed Scarborough Shoal, which China calls Huangyan Island, historically belongs to China.

Yang did not want to discuss the matter at the EAS meeting so he spent most of this time talking on other issues such as development and cooperation.

The Chinese foreign minister discussed the issue with Clinton in a bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the Asean meeting in Phnom Penh and sent a signal to work together on such a sensitive issue. Clinton said that the US was committed to developing a positive, cooperative and comprehensive relationship with China. 

Thai Foreign Minister Surapong Towichukchaikul said at the EAS meeting that the EAS should seek ways to develop cooperation for peace, stability and prosperity in the region. There might be some sensitive issues and disputes in the region but the EAS should build up trust and confidence in the region to handle the situation, he said.

Surapong called upon the EAS to give importance to cooperation to enhance community spirit and connectivity in the region.