China Daily
The Association of Southeast Asian Nations meetings in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, last week, yielded many results in promoting regional cooperation. However, for the first time in the association's history, ASEAN foreign ministers failed to issue their customary joint statement showcasing common ground after their annual meeting on Friday.
Such an outcome no doubt frustrated Philippine Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario, as his country, along with Vietnam, had tried in vain to persuade the other members to agree to a strongly worded document supporting them in their South China Sea disputes with China.
To confront China over the issue, the two countries have chosen to sow the seeds of discord in ASEAN, a move that is sure to harm the association's solidarity.
It is certain that ASEAN will continue to focus on shoring up regional development and prosperity even without a declaration. But if it intends to play a bigger role in regional and international affairs, it needs to stop troublemakers taking its meetings hostage.
Although it has indisputable sovereignty over the maritime territory, China has exercised the utmost restraint in its response to the provocative actions of the Philippines and Vietnam and fully complied with the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea, a document signed by China and ASEAN in 2002, which recognizes nation-to-nation negotiations in settling the disputes.
Last week in Phnom Penh, Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi reiterated China's stance of shelving differences and seeking joint development. He said Beijing is open to discussions on a code of conduct on the basis of full compliance with the declaration by all parties.
But to pave the way for such discussions, the parties concerned must refrain from making moves that will escalate and complicate the disputes. This year, the Philippines has laid unwarranted claim to Huangyan Island, and Vietnam enacted a law to assert sovereignty over some of the Xisha and Nansha islands.
All these moves have seriously infringed upon China's maritime territorial sovereignty. It is a misjudgment to think that China will continue to tolerate such reckless moves and not safeguard its maritime territory.
The Philippines and Vietnam must stop coveting China's territories. If they do not mend their ways, they are sure to encounter greater frustrations.
4 comments:
LE VIÉTNAM ET HUN SEN CE SONT DES VOLEURS EN CE QUI CONCERNE NOS ILES LE KOSS TRAL OU KOSS ACH SESS ET LES EAUX MARITIMES CAMBODGIENNES CAR, HUN SEN EST UN ROI DE LA MAFIA ET UN TRAITRE CAMBODGIEN. MAIS, LA CHINE EST DIFFÉRENCE DE HUN SEN LE VIÉTNAM NE PEUT JAMAIS TOUCHER LA TERRE OU LAMER DE CHINE. IL PEUT VOLER LE CAMBODGE MAIS NON PAS CAPABLE DE TOUCHER LA CHINE SI NON ESSAYEZ LE DE VOLER CETTE FOIS CI AVEC LA CHINE .
The fucken South China Sea disputes are pure bilateral issue between some ASEAN countries and China and why it should be on ASEAN agenda?
When Thailand invaded Cambodia in 2008 the whole ASEAN forced Cambodia to deal with Thailand as bilateral issue!
What is so special about Phillipine and Vietname wanting to turn South China Sea disputes into something that it is not?
The Fucken Chinese should be civilized enough to know that there is an International Sea Law that say you can't claim no more than 200 Nautical Miles from your border. The reason the whole world is getting into this mess is because of these chinks who break the law and cry foul. Play by the UNCLOS 1992 and the whole world is at peace. Your so called HAN Imperialism is spreading into the SEA and here you will meet resistence from the whole world.
Regarding the ASEAN discord, you chinks paid HunXen so much monies that he sow this unprecedent disagreement in ASEAN . You want to divide and conquer, that's all chink sneaky tactics.
too bad vietnam and the philipines, cambodia abides by the non-interference policyof asean, so stop fighting with china, ok! china is a superpower country, vietnam and the philipines will never be that status, so stop messing with china again, ok! jungle law says big fish eats smaller fish, that's natural, really. instead, stick with that code of ethical conduct, you have a better chance, ok! and stop blaming cambodia, we have nothing to do with your wrangling with china, ok. if you continue to get upset, asean will not mature, so learn to live with it, ok!
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