Sea row overshadows China, ASEAN, US talks

NAYPYIDAW,  Myanmar (UPDATED) – China on Saturday, August 9, vowed “clear and firm reactions” to defend its interests in the South China Sea but rejected suggestions of aggression, as America’s top diplomat urged restraint from all claimants to the bitterly contested waters.

A series of incidents between Beijing and rival claimants to the waters has sent regional tensions soaring and spurred Washington to call for an end to all “provocative” acts that could worsen regional maritime relations.

Animosity over the South China Sea, a crucial maritime route that is also believed to hold huge oil and gas deposits, is dominating Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) talks in Myanmar, which began Friday, August 8, and are broadening to include key world powers ahead of security discussions on Sunday, August 10.

“The position of China to safeguard its own sovereignty, maritime rights and interests is firm and unshakeable,” Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi told reporters following a meeting with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in the Myanmar capital Naypyidaw.

Wang said the situation in the contested waters was currently “stable,” adding that Beijing always acted with “self restraint.”

“However, for those groundless provocative activities, the Chinese side is bound to make clear and firm reactions,” he said.

Beijing claims sovereignty over almost the entire sea including waters, islands, reefs, shoals and rocky outcrops nearer to other countries. The reach of its claims has stirred years of diplomatic protest from ASEAN states Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Vietnam, which also claim parts of the sea, while Taiwan is a sixth claimant.

‘Common responsibility’

US Secretary of State John Kerry, who arrived in the early hours of Saturday to attend a series of meetings with regional and international powers, called on all parties to refrain from actions that could deepen maritime hostilities.

Speaking ahead of bilateral talks with the 10-member ASEAN, Kerry said the US shared a “common responsibility” with the bloc to “ensure the maritime security of critical global seas lanes and ports.”

“What happens here matters, not just in this region and to the United States, but it matters to everybody in the world to see a Southeast Asia that continues to grow based on rules-based international law,” he added.

Animosity over the South China Sea, a crucial maritime route that is also believed to hold huge oil and gas deposits, is dominating ASEAN talks, which began Friday and are broadening to include key world powers ahead of security discussions on Sunday.

Quoting a 2002 declaration of conduct for the disputed region – also signed by China – Kerry urged claimant states to voluntarily agree to step back from any actions that could “complicate or escalate disputes.” 

The 2002 declaration is non-binding, a sticking point for ASEAN nations.

In May, ties between China and Vietnam sank to their lowest point in decades after Beijing moved a deep-sea oil rig into disputed waters near the Paracel Islands, triggering deadly anti-China riots in Vietnam.

Beijing has since removed the rig, in a move that analysts say was aimed at deflecting accusations of aggression.

The Philippines has been at the forefront of protest against China and has challenged Beijing’s claims before a UN tribunal. It wants a legally watertight code of conduct for the seas – something China rejects, preferring to negotiate on a bilateral basis with its rivals.

While insisting Beijing was ready to listen to “well-intentioned proposals,” Wang urged Manila to drop a legal challenge it has filed with the United Nations over China’s claims to the most of the sea.

US charm offensive

Kerry kicked off his Southeast Asian diplomatic charm offensive with a meeting with his Vietnamese counterpart Pham Binh Minh. His trip is seen as part of a wider US foreign policy pivot to reinvigorate alliances in the Asia-Pacific.

The top US diplomat, who fought in the Vietnam War, hailed “progress” in relations, adding that issues such as communist Vietnam’s rights record would continue to be discussed as part of efforts “to really bring this relationship to its full blossom.”

But his discussions with ASEAN members appear set to be pegged to the South China Sea issue with increasing disquiet among some member states over China’s regional ambitions.

Washington had said discussions of the South China Sea at the ASEAN Regional Forum on Sunday are expected to be robust, but a state department official said the US was not looking for a “showdown” with China.

The forum is an annual security dialogue among foreign ministers of the 10-member ASEAN and key partners, including the US, Australia, China, India, Japan, South Korea, Russia and the European Union.

A draft statement from ASEAN foreign ministers, who met Friday, said the 10-member bloc had “serious concern” over recent developments in the disputed sea.

It also called for an end to “destabilizing actions” in wording that is likely to have proved contentious for China’s supporters in ASEAN – no final statement had been released by Saturday afternoon.

Sunday’s ARF will bring together ASEAN foreign ministers and key partners, including the US, Australia, China, India, Japan, South Korea, Russia, and the European Union. – Rappler.com