Tough talk on China expected

[Krueger]

Tough talk on China expected

• Published: 10 May 2014
• Writer: News Agencies

NAY PYI DAW: Asean foreign ministers agreed on Saturday to issue a joint statement on China's oil drilling near the disputed Paracel Islands in the South China Sea, the Philippine and Singaporean foreign ministers said.

China's latest actions off Vietnam this past week have been seen as highly provocative and have triggered clashes with Vietnamese coast guard vessels.

Asean government leaders meeting in Myanmar's capital this weekend are also expected to respond sternly to China's actions.

Myanmar, as the summit host, will play a crucial role in determining the tone of the final Asean statement on China, its northern neighbour and main foreign investor.

The region's foreign ministers, however, insist it is time to take a stand.

Indonesian Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa (left) talks with Philippine Foreign Minister Albert del Rosario ahead of a foreign ministers' meeting at the Asean Summit in Nay Pyi Daw on Saturday. (AP Photo)

"In the spirit of centrality and unity, Asean will come up with a common position to uphold the peace and security in the region," Philippine Foreign Secretary Albert del Rosario told Kyodo News.

Singapore Foreign Minister K. Shanmugam said Asean "can't stay silent" this time.

"We have to be neutral. Vietnam will have one version, China will have another version of the events," he said. "It's difficult for Asean to take sides but neutrality doesn't mean staying silent."

Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Shanmugam said, "Our credibility has been affected a little in the last few years.

"If these events took place a few days ago and Asean foreign ministers meet here today, leaders meet tomorrow and we didn't say anything, I think our desire to play a central role, our desire to be united, our desire to have a peaceful region, all of this, and Asean's own integrity, I think, will be seriously damaged."

He was referring to the failure of Asean leaders to jointly condemn similar Chinese actions two years ago. At the time, Cambodia was chairing the group and Prime Minister Hun Sen was accused of actively blocking efforts to take a stand for fear of losing Chinese investment.

Vietnam, which denounced Chinese ships' ramming and firing water cannons at its vessels, raised the issue at the meeting of senior Asean officials Friday.

An Asean diplomat told Kyodo News that the Philippines supported Vietnam, saying China's recent actions violated international law and the Declaration on the Conduct of the South China Sea, which Asean and China signed in 2002.

The Philippines also briefed Asean on the progress of its case against Chinese incursions into its territory at a UN tribunal, according to the diplomat.

The diplomat said Indonesian Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa expressed concern at the slow consultation process to craft a legally binding code of conduct in the South China Sea.

Asean is concerned that the standoff in the waters claimed by both China and Vietnam might deteriorate into an armed conflict that could hurt regional stability and delay plans to transform Southeast Asia into a community by 2015.

Sihasak Phuangketkeow, permanent secretary of Thailand's Foreign Ministry, said Asean was very concerned about the situation and was seeking a "constructive" statement that "reflects our common concern".

 

[Beast]

Another US propaganda report.

 

[BDforever]

Tough talk on China expected

• Published: 10 May 2014
• Writer: News Agencies

NAY PYI DAW: Asean foreign ministers agreed on Saturday to issue a joint statement on China's oil drilling near the disputed Paracel Islands in the South China Sea, the Philippine and Singaporean foreign ministers said.

China's latest actions off Vietnam this past week have been seen as highly provocative and have triggered clashes with Vietnamese coast guard vessels.

Asean government leaders meeting in Myanmar's capital this weekend are also expected to respond sternly to China's actions.

Myanmar, as the summit host, will play a crucial role in determining the tone of the final Asean statement on China, its northern neighbour and main foreign investor.

The region's foreign ministers, however, insist it is time to take a stand.

Indonesian Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa (left) talks with Philippine Foreign Minister Albert del Rosario ahead of a foreign ministers' meeting at the Asean Summit in Nay Pyi Daw on Saturday. (AP Photo)

"In the spirit of centrality and unity, Asean will come up with a common position to uphold the peace and security in the region," Philippine Foreign Secretary Albert del Rosario told Kyodo News.

Singapore Foreign Minister K. Shanmugam said Asean "can't stay silent" this time.

"We have to be neutral. Vietnam will have one version, China will have another version of the events," he said. "It's difficult for Asean to take sides but neutrality doesn't mean staying silent."

Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Shanmugam said, "Our credibility has been affected a little in the last few years.

"If these events took place a few days ago and Asean foreign ministers meet here today, leaders meet tomorrow and we didn't say anything, I think our desire to play a central role, our desire to be united, our desire to have a peaceful region, all of this, and Asean's own integrity, I think, will be seriously damaged."

He was referring to the failure of Asean leaders to jointly condemn similar Chinese actions two years ago. At the time, Cambodia was chairing the group and Prime Minister Hun Sen was accused of actively blocking efforts to take a stand for fear of losing Chinese investment.

Vietnam, which denounced Chinese ships' ramming and firing water cannons at its vessels, raised the issue at the meeting of senior Asean officials Friday.

An Asean diplomat told Kyodo News that the Philippines supported Vietnam, saying China's recent actions violated international law and the Declaration on the Conduct of the South China Sea, which Asean and China signed in 2002.

The Philippines also briefed Asean on the progress of its case against Chinese incursions into its territory at a UN tribunal, according to the diplomat.

The diplomat said Indonesian Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa expressed concern at the slow consultation process to craft a legally binding code of conduct in the South China Sea.

Asean is concerned that the standoff in the waters claimed by both China and Vietnam might deteriorate into an armed conflict that could hurt regional stability and delay plans to transform Southeast Asia into a community by 2015.

Sihasak Phuangketkeow, permanent secretary of Thailand's Foreign Ministry, said Asean was very concerned about the situation and was seeking a "constructive" statement that "reflects our common concern".

yes and go attack China and bring freedom i dare you

 

[Beast]

yes and go attack China and bring freedom i dare you

ASEAN is not stupid to go against China. Only 2 stubborn kid high on drugs like Pinoy and Vietnam while Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, Myanmar, brunei , Malaysia , SIngapore , Indonesia knows which country will bring them more wealth. But of cos, US will try to influence other media and start misreporting....

 

[Raphael]

How "tough" can the talk be if they've agreed from the outset that any statement will be neutral? The jokes just keep coming.

 

[Beast]

How "tough" can the talk be if they've agreed from the outset that any statement will be neutral? The jokes just keep coming.

Precisely, but our US friend is already on full gear posting rubbish and anti China talk. Cost they will never take real action.

 

[Raphael]

Precisely, but our US friend is already on full gear posting rubbish and anti China talk. Cost they will never take real action.

Do you know what the Bangkok Post is? It's an English language paper. No real or self-respecting Thais read it, only pedophile Western expats who go to Thailand looking for acquire brown child sex-slaves do. This kind of yellow journalism appeals to them.

 

[GR!FF!N]

ASEAN calls on China to speed up maritime security talks

NAYPYITAW - Southeast Asian foreign ministers voiced "serious concerns" on Saturday over naval clashes between Vietnam and China as the regional group's top official urged Beijing to step up efforts to advance talks on maritime security.

Foreign ministers and heads of state of the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) are facing a test of unity at their summit this weekend as some members express alarm over China's growing assertiveness in the disputed South China Sea and push for a strong joint statement.

Tensions ratcheted up in the past week after China positioned a huge oil rig in an area also claimed by Vietnam, with each country accusing the other of ramming its ships in the region close to the disputed Paracel Islands.

ASEAN Secretary General Le Luong Minh, who is Vietnamese, told Reuters the incident added urgency to concluding talks between ASEAN and China on agreeing a code of conduct in the resource-rich sea - a set of maritime rules to ease tensions.

But he pointedly said China's efforts to conclude the talks had fallen short of ASEAN's. Despite holding three rounds of talks since last year, the discussions had yet to focus on "substantive issues," he said.

"We need efforts on both sides," he said in an interview on the sidelines of the summit in Myanmar's capital, Naypyitaw.

"On ASEAN, we have made great efforts. We need efforts on the part of China."

Tensions over the sea, which is claimed in part by four ASEAN members as well as China and Taiwan, have strained the group's unity in recent years, resulting in an embarrassing breakdown of a summit in Cambodia in 2012.

In their statement, ASEAN foreign ministers on Saturday called for "an early conclusion" of the code of conduct and expressed concern about "increased tensions in the area".

At the summit, which ends on Sunday, countries including Vietnam and the Philippines are pushing for a strong statement, while others - mindful of China's economic weight - are reluctant to directly criticise Beijing, diplomats say.

Myanmar, which is chairing ASEAN for the first time this year, signalled a softer approach to China.

Myanmar's government spokesman, Ye Ht, said ASEAN and China have a "very good relationship" and both recognize China's continued growth as a political and economic power should not be marred by conflict with its neighbours.

"China is not only big friends with Myanmar, but China is also the biggest trade partner with most of the ASEAN countries," he told reporters in Naypyitaw. "So China's peaceful rising is very important for the ASEAN region."

Territorial claims

Both Vietnam and staunch US ally the Philippines have insisted the South China Sea be discussed at the summit.

Philippine diplomats told Reuters some member states were opposed to issuing a separate statement on the latest South China Sea dispute or mentioning the tensions in the final communiqué due to be released on Sunday.

China says territorial disputes should be discussed on a bilateral basis. It claims the entire South China Sea, putting it in conflict with Taiwan, Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia, and Brunei. The last four are ASEAN members.

Speaking to reporters in Manila, Philippine President Benigno Aquino III rejected calls from China for bilateral talks to resolve territorial issues and said dialogue will not resolve the issues that are also affecting other regional countries.

Tensions spiked in another part of the South China Sea over the past week when Beijing demanded the Philippines release a Chinese fishing boat and its crew seized on Tuesday off Half Moon Shoal (Hasa-Hasa Shoal) in the Spratly Islands, which both countries claim.

ASEAN calls on China to speed up maritime security talks | News | GMA News Online

 

[Pangu]

ASEAN urges restraint in South China Sea disputes


Foreign ministers’ issue joint statement after week of flare ups

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By
NG JING YNG
Published: May 10, 8:34 PM
Updated: May 10, 8:52 PM
(Page 1 of 1) - PAGINATE
NAYPYITAW – The foreign ministers of the 10-member Association of South-east Asian Nations (ASEAN) have called on all parties involved in the South China Sea territorial disputes to exercise self-restraint and to settle disputes by peaceful means.

In a joint statement issued at the 24th ASEAN summit today (May 10), they expressed serious concerns over rising tensions in the contested waters rich in oil and gas. They also stressed the urgency to conclude the Code of Conduct on the South China Sea, which could help to guide countries’ behaviour on their claims in the area.


Urging relevant parties to act in accordance with principles of international law, the foreign ministers reiterated the importance of maintaining stability and maritime security in the region.

Over the past week, the Chinese were involved in separate stand-offs with the Filipinos and Vietnamese. The Philippines officials had seized a Chinese fishing vessel over alleged illegal hunting activities. Separately, China accused Vietnam of intentionally colliding with its ships, while Vietnam asserted that Chinese vessels used water cannons and rammed its vessels into Vietnamese ships.

The Vietnam-China spat came after China mounted an oil rig in a part of the South China Sea which is also claimed by the Vietnamese. The United States have sinceweighed in to deem China’s deployment of the rig as “provocative and unhelpful” to security in the region, prompting China to blame the US for stoking tensions.

Singapore’s Foreign Affairs and Law Minister K Shanmugam told reporters after the foreign ministers’ meeting that there was unanimous consent among them to issue a statement. This is to lend credence to the ASEAN body, whose credibility has suffered over the last few years, he said.

“If we didn’t say anything, our desire to play a central role, our desire to be united, our desire to have a peaceful region, all of these, ASEAN’s own integrity will be seriously damaged”, said Mr Shanmugam. “This does not mean that ASEAN has got to take sides. Neutrality is not the same as keeping quiet”.

“But having foreign ministers meet, and having leaders meet and keep quiet when these tensions are there, I think that would have severely dented ASEAN and that was the view of every other foreign minister who was in the (meeting)”.

Stressing the need for peace in the region, he pointed out that mishaps can easily get out of hand. He also noted that the foreign ministers’ statement is consistent with the proposed Code of Conduct on the South China Sea. In fact, the statement emphasises the urgency to move expeditiously on the Code, he said.

“The underlying disputes, who own which areas, what are the claims, (those are) going to take a very long time to deal with,” said Mr Shanmugam. “What you really want is a Code that determines how countries behave with each other, how you go about handling disputes, how do you manage areas where there are overlapping claims (and) what sort of development activities can take place (there)”.

When asked if he felt China was dragging its feet to finalise the Code, as suggested by some critics, Mr Shanmugam, nonetheless, said that he would not characterise it this way and China is being “cautious”. Such matters – as in the case of the existing Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea - take time to be completed but some progress has already been made, with talks started among officials, he added.

DISCUSSION ON HAZE

Meanwhile, Singapore also sought Indonesia’s cooperation on the haze issue during the foreign ministers’ meeting today. Mr Shanmugam said Singapore welcomed the fact that Indonesia acted to deal with the problem earlier this year – outgoing Indonesian president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono in March gave soldiers and local officials in Riau three weeks to extinguish the forest fires - but he hoped that the country would ratify the ASEAN agreement on transboundary haze pollution.

“We pointed out that the progress on implementation of the ASEAN haze monitoring system has not been particularly rapid, to put it mildly,” said Mr Shamugam, referring to the system developed by Singapore that will identify perpetrators of the haze and put them to justice.

Also giving his take on the integrated ASEAN community that aims to be implemented by end 2015, Mr Shanmugam underscored its importance and noted that the final stretch of work is the most difficult but efforts have to stay the course.

Chairing the ASEAN for the first time, Myanmar is hosting its inaugural ASEAN Summit since joining the grouping in 1997. The former pariah state opted to forego the ASEAN chairmanship in 2006, when its then-ruling military junta was under pressure to carry out democratic reforms

Mr Shanmugam praised Myanmar as an excellent host and expressed confidence that the country was well prepared in its role.

ASEAN urges restraint in South China Sea disputes | TODAYonline

 

[BoQ77]

let's go, ASEAN

 

[Soryu]

It's step up.
Some Chinese mental boys don't understand how did China lose her face and Chinese Govt was defeated on international field.

Chinese Govt denied the issue, they said: "No clash on SCS", "Vietnamese attacked and ram on Chinese ships", "Chinese ships are all unarmed and civillian ship ... "

But now, ASEAN leader said: "Yes, there's clash, there's issue, and we concern about it, we're demand for peaceful"
>>> It's mean Chinese Govt is liar, and provocative side.

They don't want madness Chinese Govt upset, they want to restraint China

 

[xunzi]

It's such a joke that a couple troublemakers think they can use their cloud to make others form a gang on us. They haven't see us truly fighting back yet.

 

[OrionHunter]

Precisely, but our US friend is already on full gear posting rubbish and anti China talk. Cost they will never take real action.

Well, the Yanks can only talk and try to look tough, but chicken out when the going gets tough!

They backed out against China on the 'No fly zone'. They got cold feet sending troops to Ukraine. They're packing up in Afghanistan and the threat of invading Iran was so much bluster from the neo-cons that it wasn't even funny!

Since 2008, there's nothing in there but gas!!

 

[Rechoice]

It's such a joke that a couple troublemakers think they can use their cloud to make others form a gang on us. They haven't see us truly fighting back yet.

truly fighting ? is afraid from Japan like kid. Its true joke.