US Back China and ASEAN Nations for Peaceful Solution on Sea Disputes
By Chhay Sophal
Cambodia News
Phnom Penh (12 July, 2012): The US government on Thursday wishes to see a peaceful solution about a territorial disputes in the South China Sea between the world’s most populous China and some member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton has had a closed door meeting with her Chinese counterpart Yang Jiechi today and she is expected to hold a press conference in late afternoon (6 pm, Cambodian time). Hillary has also joined the 2nd East Asia Foreign Ministers’ Meeting (EAS FMM) in the morning.
Speaking at the (EAS FMM), Hillary said the US has no territorial claims in the South China Sea and the US do not take sides in disputes about territorial or maritime boundaries. However, she said, “we do have an interest in freedom of navigation, the maintenance of peace and stability, respect for international law and unimpeded lawful commerce in the South China Sea.”
ASEAN and China have almost accepted a code of conduct (COC) for resolving the conflicts. Cambodian Foreign Ministry Secretary of State Kao Kim Hourn told reporter on Wednesday that there are some specific issues need to be discussed on the draft COC.
In the evening on Wednesday, after a meeting between Chinese Foreign Minister and ASEAN members, Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Fu Ying told reporters that the meeting also focused on the implementation of the COC and to carry out programmes and cooperation projects together within the framework of COC.
She said the Chinese foreign minister would like to give a serious consideration and would like to see the condition right for exploring the possibility of discussing COC.
“There was emphasis of the Chinese Minister that in order to have good conditions for the future discussion on COC, it is important that the COC must be implemented by all members. If some members violate the COC or ignore the COC it is not a fruitful, improving trust, understanding, competence among the members,” she said.
However, she said, there is a positive note and China hopes that the condition will be preceded while “the general feeling is good relation and dialogue”.
The 10 nations of ASEAN are Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam. The countries having disputes with China are Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Vietnam, including Taiwan — the non-ASEAN member.
The South China Sea is said that it hosts a third of the world’s cargo traffic with rich fishing grounds and it is believed to store vast oil and gas reserves. The dispute stared sparking after China claims virtually the entire area and has created an entirely new city to administer it, sparking deep concern from rival claimants.