Reuters
PHNOM PENH, Cambodia - The Philippines pushed for discussion of the South China Sea dispute at a regional summit on Monday, despite its omission from the agenda by host Cambodia, calling for progress on an issue at the top of Southeast Asia's security agenda.
The decision by Cambodia to leave the issue off the agenda of this week's Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) leaders' summit, had raised suspicion it had come under pressure from close economic ally China.
Chinese President Hu Jintao told Cambodia during a weekend visit to the country that Beijing did not want talks on a binding code of conduct over disputed areas to move too quickly.
"The Philippines hopes that the Code of Conduct will be a real 'move forward', not merely in terms of form but more importantly in substance," Philippine Foreign Secretary Albert del Rosario told a meeting ahead of the summit, according to a statement obtained by Reuters.
He reiterated a Philippine offer for a summit of countries claiming parts of the South China Sea to discuss the dispute in a manner "based on international law," referring to the United Nations Convention of the Law of the Sea.
Philippine President Benigno Aquino plans to raise the issue on Wednesday, the summit's second and final day.
China, the Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei, Vietnam and Taiwan all claim territory in the South China Sea. China's claim is the largest.
China has rejected "internationalisation" of the dispute over the resource-rich maritime area, preferring to discuss it bilaterally or with ASEAN, which operates on a principle of consensus. Only four claimants are ASEAN members.
Philippine officials have said they are frustrated over Chinese efforts to slow discussions over formalising a 2002 declaration of conduct and cooperation between ASEAN and China.
Chinese navy ships threatened to ram a Philippine research vessel last March, prompting Manila to scramble planes and ships to the disputed Reed Bank area. The incident prompted Aquino to seek closer ties with Washington, which has signalled a military "pivot" back to Asia.
China, which says it has sovereignty over the sea and the islands within a looping "nine-dashed line" on its maps, rejected a Philippine proposal within ASEAN in November to define contested areas and allow joint development.
Officials in the Philippines on Monday announced plans to develop an island in the disputed Spratlys chain, a proposal likely to rile China. The 37-hectare (91-acre) island, known internationally as Thitu and in the Philippines as Pag-Asa boasts fresh water and a population of a few hundred.
8 comments:
Countries that involved in South China Sea should know that Cambodia is THE MOST CORRUPT COUNTRY in the world. To Cambodia, money can do any thing, in this case, blocking from talk to find the resolution for peace in South China Sea. Why? because China throw more than half of billion dollars to Cambodia NOT TO TALK about it in the meeting.
Who idea is it to make Cambodia a chair of ASEAN?
Any Asian country is take turn to be the chairman of ASEAN.
of course some countries will keep on pushing it, but we have to use a code of conduct as we can't please everybody who wants this or that all the time, you know. that's why we have the rule of law to govern wants. people are subjective; the law is objective. please keep that in mind. we have the rule of law to follow.
Can't blame Cambodia. Every country looks after its own interest.
i think this island spat is a good lesson for vietnam, etc not to use their population or land mass to steal from cambodia again. i heard often in the past, vietnam and thailand, especially, often used their bigger population and land mass to steal more territories from cambodia. they always say their country is bigger, and their population is bigger, etc with cambodia. now, they will have a rude awakening when china is doing the same to them. you see, i always say what goes around comes around, so true, really! so, now what vietnam thailand say to china is they were to use population and landmass to justify their illegal stealing from cambodia, etc. the spratley islands and the paracel islands all belongs to china, period. no small countries like vietnam, thailand, etc can steal from china because china is 100 times bigger than these puny, tiny countries compare to china, ok! see, how cambodia feel now about vietnam and thailand stealing from us! i say more power to china.
Agreed with above. Cambodia should stick with PRC. These ASEAN ONLY look out for themselves. Where are they when the Thai thief aggression on Cambodia three temples areas. China will crushed them like bugs if this thing lead to military confrontation. America will not able to help them. America has bigger problems.
I hope China crushes the Viets so we can take our Kampuchea Krom, Koh Tral back.
all Khmer leader it so stupid alway take bribery money even letting others country take khmer land and killed it people. No Khmer leader or government is doing their jobs as they suppose to do since 1900 to 2012. Alway take money for themself, our country is so weak no one is protecting or step up and doing anything. Most land are now belong to others country for 99 lease. Why are the government allow this to happen, do you thing they care about the future of the people?
What is ASEAN? It seems the ASEAN member such Philippine is too self-serve and regardless what other ASEAN member has to say and Philippine want to have their way?
If Philippine want to have their way and why Philippine join the ASEAN for? The Philippine should go fight and deal with China alone!
It is unfair to accuse Cambodia for all the wrong reasons regarding the South China Sea disputes! Before accusing Cambodia for siding with China and what have the previous ASEAN leaders done in solving South China Sea disputes with China before Cambodia became chairman of ASEAN?
Tell me what have the previous ASEAN leaders done for Cambodia when Thailand invaded Cambodia?
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