This is an article related to the East Sea:
ASEAN floundering over sea code of conduct | The Japan Times Online
ASEAN floundering over sea code of conduct
Monday, March 26, 2012
By MARK VALENCIA
Special to The Japan Times
KUALA LUMPUR — A rash of run-ins between China and rival Southeast Asian claimants to maritime space and islands in the South China Sea has prompted intensified negotiations on a formal code of conduct (CoC).
In 2002 the parties agreed on a political Declaration of Conduct (DoC) and finally in July 2011 on guidelines for its implementation — only after difficult negotiations. Both are weak and nonbinding and have not prevented incidents in the Sea, most of them involving China with other claimants. It is thus no surprise that China is not particularly keen on being bound by a robust code.
However, the parties embarked on a new round of negotiations in January 2012 and there was hope that a code could be agreed, presented and approved at the planned ASEAN-China summit in Phnom Penh in November 2012 — the 10th anniversary of the DoC. But given the political differences that must be bridged, many are skeptical that the target will be met then — if ever.
The political context raises more questions than answers. The U.S.-China competition for the "hearts and minds" of Southeast Asia has begun to overshadow and influence the disputes and the attempt by the Association of Southeast Asian Nations to manage them.
It appears that, despite its denials and claims to neutrality, the United States has sided with the ASEAN claimants (its ally the Philippines, and Brunei, Malaysia and Vietnam). Ironically, U.S. backing may make it more difficult for ASEAN and China to agree on a CoC because some claimants may be more assertive and even take riskier actions than they otherwise would, increasing instability in the South China Sea. Some even argue that this works to the U.S. advantage by pushing some ASEAN members toward the U.S.
The U.S. "pivot" toward Asia in foreign and defense policy, and the accompanying announced intention to place U.S. forces in Darwin, has unsettled the region.
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I started this topic since there wasn't a dedicated one about this strategic maritime areas that are being disputed by 6 different countries, please refrain from going off-topic ... Thanks!
I wonder how can ManilaBoy45 post a new thread, while you less than 50 posts.
