Asean urges calm amid concern for China’s islands
South-East Asian foreign ministers have called for militarisation to be avoided in the South China Sea and expressed concern about islands being built there by Beijing.
The communique late yesterday came after two days of busy diplomacy ahead of an Association of South-East Asian Nations meeting in Manila.
Earlier, China’s foreign minister said new UN Security Council sanctions on North Korea were the right response to missile tests but dialogue was vital to resolve the issue, which is now at a “critical juncture”.
Wang Yi said talks with North Korean foreign minister Ri Yong-ho were “very thorough”.
He said he advised Mr Ri to calmly assess the UN resolutions and not carry out further nuclear tests.
But the South China Sea has long been the most divisive issue for Asean. Some countries are wary about possible repercussions of defying Beijing by taking a stronger stand.
Asean failed to issue the customary statement on Saturday, over what diplomats said was disagreement about whether to make oblique references to Beijing’s rapid expansion in disputed waters.
China is sensitive to even a veiled reference by Asean to its seven reclaimed reefs, three of which have runways, missile batteries, radars and, some experts say, the capability to accommodate fighter jets.
The communique took a stronger position than an earlier unpublished draft, which was a watered-down version of one issued last year in Laos.
The agreed text “emphasised the importance of non-militarisation and self-restraint”.
It said that after extensive discussions, concerns were voiced by some members about land reclamation “and activities in the area that have eroded trust and confidence, increased tension and may undermine peace, security and stability”.
Asean’s deadlock over the statement highlights China’s growing influence on the bloc at a time of uncertainty over the new US administration’s security priorities, and whether it will try to keep China’s maritime activities in check.
Asean diplomats said Vietnam was among the members who pushed for a communique
that kept the more contentious elements. Hanoi has competing claims with Beijing over the Paracel and Spratly archipelago.
But another diplomat said there was no real disagreement on the communique and stressed that the initial draft was seen by some members as weak.
Also yesterday, foreign ministers of Asean and China adopted a framework for a code of conduct in the South China Sea, a move they hailed as progress but which was seen by critics as a tactic to buy Beijing time to consolidate its maritime power.
And a highly anticipated meeting between China and North Korea took place in Manila after the UN security council imposed new sanctions on Pyongyang over its two missile tests last month.
The sanctions could slash North Korea’s $3 billion annual export revenue by a third.
Mr Wang said diplomatic and peaceful means were now necessary to avoid tensions and an escalation of the crisis.
“We call on all sides to take a responsible attitude when making judgments and taking actions,” he said. “We cannot do one and neglect the other. Sanctions are needed but sanctions are not the final goal.”
North Korea has been under UN sanctions since 2006. The new measures were a response to five nuclear tests and four long-range missile launches.
The US, which has long maintained that China has not done enough to rein in North Korea, negotiated with Beijing for a month on the resolution.
It bans North Korean exports of coal, iron, lead and seafood and stops countries hiring additional North Korean labourers.
The standoff is expected to dominate today’s Asean forum, which gathers 27 foreign ministers including former participants in the halted six-party talks: Russia, Japan, the US, China and North and South Korea.