PH, China reject use of force

Importance of peace in South China Sea reaffirmed

BEIJING/MANILA (Reuters) – China and the Philippines have agreed to avoid force to resolve their differences over the South China Sea, according to a joint statement issued on Thursday by China at the end of a visit to Manila by Chinese Premier Li Keqiang.

China and the Philippines have long sparred over the South China Sea, but relations have improved considerably under President Duterte.

Malaysia, Taiwan, Brunei, Vietnam, and the Philippines claim some or all of the South China Sea and its myriad shoals, reefs, and islands. China claims most of the waterway and has been aggressively building and militarizing artificial islands.

The joint statement, carried by China’s official Xinhua news agency, said China and the Philippines

reaffirmed the importance of peace in the South China Sea and of freedom of navigation and overflight.

There should be no violence or threats of violence and the dispute should be resolved via talks between the “relevant sovereign countries,” it added.

“Both sides believe that the maritime dispute is not the full sum of the China-Philippines relationship,” the statement said.

In a separate statement summing up discussions at the Association of Southeast Asian Nations summit, Duterte took note of the “improving relations between ASEAN and China” in the South China Sea.

“In view of this positive momentum, we look forward to the announcement of the start of substantive negotiations on the Code of Conduct (COC) with China” he said, hopefully in early 2018 in Vietnam, where the two sides will meet at the earliest.

ASEAN and China have been discussing a set of rules on how to behave in the disputed waters to avoid accidents and raising tension.

Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said the agreement between the ASEAN and China to begin discussions on the COC will be productive for all parties concerned.

He said even China is sincere in pursuing the COC to avoid any conflict or tension among claimant countries.

“I think so because even them (China) is saying that they also want it. I believe they are sincere (about it). Even the President believes they are sincere in pursuing that together with the other claimants (like) Malaysia, Indonesia, and Vietnam,” Lorenzana said.

“It’s best to talk about this. It will be going to the table and talk about things that will benefit everybody,” he added.

Lorenzana said among the benefits of having a COC is that there will be no miscalculations and misunderstanding among the claimants

“Our fishermen will also have unlimited access whenever they go out there fishing. At the same time we are going to continue developing the islands under our control,” Lorenzana said.

Lorenzana said tension in the South China Sea has also decrease after President Duterte visited China and talked to Chinese President Xi Jinping.

“Well, the tension has been decreased ever since na pumasok si president. The first time he went to China and talked to Xi Jinping, eh, bumaba na yung tension at saka maayos na sa West Philippine Sea (part of South China Sea that the Philippines claim).

President Duterte also said the two sides had successfully tested the hotline among foreign ministries on how to manage maritime emergencies.

“In our view, these are practical measures that could reduce tensions, and the risks of accidents, misunderstandings and miscalculation,” he said. (With a report from Francis T. Wakefield)