Asean opts for caution to placate Beijing

Cambodia sides with China as regional bloc calls for ‘self-restraint’ in dispute over claims to the South China Sea

VIENTIANE, LAOS // South-East Asian nations yesterday ducked direct criticism of Beijing over its claims to the South China Sea, in a watered-down statement produced after days of disagreement, giving China a diplomatic victory. The 10- member Association of South- East Asian Nations ( Asean) avoided mention of a ruling by a United Nations-backed tribunal that rejected China’s claims and infuriated Beijing.

Instead, Asean repeated that it was “seriously concerned” by “land reclamations and escalation of activities” and called for “self-restraint” in the waterway.

China thanked Cambodia for supporting its stance on maritime disputes, a position that threw the regional bloc’s weekend meeting in the Laotian capital of Vientiane into disarray.

Competing claims with China in the vital shipping lane are among the most contentious issues for Asean, with members pulled between their desire to assert their sovereignty while finding common ground and fostering ties with Beijing.

In a ruling by the UN-backed Permanent Court of Arbitration on July 12, Manila won an emphatic legal victory over Beijing on the dispute.

The Philippines and Vietnam wanted the ruling, which denied China’s sweeping claims in the seaway that channels more than US$ 5 trillion ( Dh18.36tn) in global trade each year, and a call to respect international maritime law to feature in the communique. Backing China’s call for bilateral discussions, Cambodia opposed the wording on the ruling, diplomats said. Manila agreed to drop mention of the ruling in the communique, an Asean diplomat said, in an effort to prevent the disagreement leading to the group failing to issue a statement.

It referred instead to the need to find peaceful resolutions to disputes in the South China Sea in accordance with international law, including the UN’s law of the sea, to which the court ruling referred.

“We remain seriously concerned about recent and ongoing developments and took note of the concerns expressed by some ministers on the land reclamations and escalation of activities in the area, which have eroded trust and confidence, increased tensions and may undermine peace, security and stability in the region,” the Asean communique said.

It is the first time key players – including US secretary of state John Kerry and Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi – have met en masse since a UN-backed tribunal two weeks ago rejected Beijing’s claims.

Asean’s envoys have spent days wrangling over how to respond to the ruling amid splits, acrimony and fears that the bloc was faltering in its response to the major security challenge.

Cambodia has been accused of scuppering efforts by the bloc to unite in a call for China to abide by the tribunal’s verdict. Four Asean members – Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia and Brunei – have competing claims with Beijing over parts of the South China Sea.

Most want to keep pressure on China for its campaign of island-building yet are wary of angering a vital trading partner.

But Asean operates on a tradition of consensus diplomacy, meaning one nation can have an effective veto if it disagrees.

After the statement, Mr Wang accused countries outside the region of “keeping the temperature high” over the sea, a clear rebuke to the US.

The US said it took no position on territorial disputes but argues for free sea and air passage through what it considers international waters. It has called on Beijing to accept the ruling.

Reference to UN tribunal ruling recognising the Philippines in dispute dropped from Asean statement