South China Sea joint-development scheme 'best solution'
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China yesterday proposed that countries involved in the South China Sea dispute should consider the joint-development scheme as a realistic and effective way to settle the disagreement.
In his speech at the East Asia Summit in Nay Pyi Taw, Chinese Prime Minister Li Keqiang said China and the Asean were making some progress in finding peaceful solutions to settle the territorial conflict.
China has been at loggerheads with many Asean countries, notably the Philippines and Vietnam, over territorial claims in South China Sea. Tension has heightened, with clashes flaring from time to time over the past few years.
Li said the general situation in the area was quite stable this year, ensuring freedom and safety of navigation in the waters.
The Asean community and China are in the process of fully implementing a non-binding Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea, and are considering a code of conduct to regulate the practice of countries in the area.
Both sides have agreed on a list of common elements to be included in the code of conduct during a meeting of senior officials last month. They have also agreed to come to an early conclusion on the code, Li told leaders in the summit.
Since the code of conduct has yet to be settled upon, both sides have agreed to have an “early harvest” as a temporary measure to respond to the situation in the sea. To that end, Li said, both sides have agreed to establish a platform for joint search-and-rescue at sea among maritime authorities of both sides as well as among foreign ministries.
The joint development scheme proposed by Li yesterday is the latest idea to cope with problems in the South China Sea and find ways to live together peacefully.
“Neighbours cannot be chosen. Friction and disputes are hardly avoidable in the interaction of neighbours,” he said. “The ancient Chinese believe in harmony with neighbours. I believe that as long as we treat each other with sincerity and seek common ground while reserving differences, there will be no insurmountable obstacles that will stand in our way.”
East Asia Summit is a gathering of leaders from the 10 Asean members together with Australia, China, India, Japan, New Zealand, South Korea, the United States and Russia.
The South China Sea dispute is part of their concern, as the US has expressed worries that the territorial disputes might affect safety and freedom of navigation in the waters.
