Clinton urges ASEAN unity on South China Sea

[Ganges Zephyr]

Jakarta: Southeast Asian states must present a united front to the Chinese in dealing with territorial disputes in the South China Sea to "literally calm the waters," US Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton said here Tuesday.

She urged all involved to make "meaningful progress" on a process for ending conflicts "without coercion, without intimidation and certainly without the use of force" by November.

In Indonesia's capital before heading to China, Clinton offered strong U.S. Support for a regionally endorsed six-point plan to ease rising tensions by implementing a code of conduct for all claimants to disputed islands.

Jakarta is the headquarters of the Association of South East Asian Nations, and Clinton pressed the group to insist that China agree to a formal multilateral mechanism to reduce short-term risks of conflict and ultimately come to final settlements over sovereignty.


The stance puts the US Squarely at odds with China, which has become increasingly assertive in pressing its territorial claims with its smaller neighbors and wants the disputes to be resolved individually with each country, giving it greater leverage than dealing with a bloc.

Clinton made the case in today's meetings with Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and ASEAN secretary general Surin Pitsuwan, a day after she delivered the same message to Indonesian Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa.

"The United States has a national interest, as every country does, in the maintenance of peace and stability, respect for international law, freedom of navigation, unimpeded lawful commerce in the South China Sea," Clinton told reporters at a news conference with Natalegawa.

"The United States does not take a position on competing territorial claims, but we believe the nations of the region should work collaboratively to resolve disputes without coercion, without intimidation and certainly without the use of force," she said.

The bold part represents "irony". There would never be a solution if all SEA nations united against China. Water would be rough and not calm
Chinese policy of one-to-one solution seems to be going for the toss

 

[Nan Yang]

She tries and tries and tries.

 

[ahfatzia]

She tries and tries and tries.

Of course, that's the only way she can give the perception the US 'might' come to their aids when the shyt hit the fan. Buy now and pay later, the more the better. Good sales strategy, I have to admit.

 

[Boson]

It has nothing to do with US advice or not.

ASEAN should stand together on all matters, including the islands in south china sea.

Those trying to break ASEAN unity stand exposed, already.

It doesn't need US to tell, what's already plainly clear to everybody.