Beijing: Asean gab not venue for shoal issue

July 05, 2012
By Sara Fabunan
Manila Standard Today

Beijing on Wednesday said the 45th Association of Southeast Asian Nations Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Cambodia next week was not “the right venue” for the Philippines to raise the issue of the standoff at the Panatag (Scarborough) Shoal.

China’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Weimin said the meeting was an event aimed at enhancing mutual trust among member-countries.

“The Chinese side believes that the [meeting] is an important platform for enhancing mutual trust and strengthening cooperation, not the right place to discuss the South China Sea issue,” Liu said in a statement.

He made his statement following the claims by Chinese newspapers that the Philippines was planning to fuel tensions during the Asean foreign ministers’ meeting in Cambodia, which will be held on July 6 to 13 at the Peace Palace in Phnom Penh.

The meeting will be attended by Asean member countries and their partners Australia, Bangladesh, Canada, China, the European Union, India, Japan, Mongolia, New Zealand, North and South Korea, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Russia, Sri Lanka, Timor-Leste and the United States.

Liu said the Chinese government had no intention of discussing the month-long standoff on the shoal, but would exchange views on China-Asean relations, East Asia cooperation, Asia Pacific security cooperation, regional and international concerns, and preparations for the coming East Asian Summit in November.

“We hope achievements can be made in enhancing mutual trust between countries in this region and maintaining regional peace, stability and prosperity,” Liu said.

When asked if China was concerned that the Philippines might instigate talks on the West Philippine Sea issue, Liu said Beijing was willing to continue to hold dialogues with countries involved in the issue but in a “peaceful means”.

“The communication channels between China and other parties are open and effective,” Liu said.

“China is willing to continue to hold dialogues and consultations with countries involved to solve the South China Sea issue with peaceful means.”

The standoff between Manila and Beijing started on April 10, when Chinese government vessels prevented the Philippine Coast Guard from arresting Chinese fishermen who were caught poaching in the shoal, which is 24 nautical miles west of Luzon.

The Chinese government insists that 90 percent of the islands in the South China Sea (West Philippines Sea) belongs to them, but the Philippines, Taiwan, Vietnam, Brunei and Malaysia are also claiming them as their own.