South China Sea issue grows ‘positive’

The situation in the South China Sea issue has cooled down and the issue “is developing in a positive way”, the Foreign Ministry said on Tuesday.

“China has noticed expressions in the summit chairman’s statement about the South China Sea,” ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said of a chairman’s statement issued by the Association of Southeast Asian Nations summit in Manila on Sunday.

“At present, thanks to joint efforts of regional countries, the temperatures of the South China Sea situation have gone down, things have eased up and the situation is developing in a positive way.”

The statement of the 10-country bloc spoke of “the improving cooperation between ASEAN and China”, and did not include references to “tensions”.

An ASEAN diplomat told Reuters that the statement was a genuine representation of the atmosphere of the Manila meetings.

“We respected the Philippines’ views and cooperated,” the diplomat said. “It clearly reflected how the issue was discussed.” The Philippines holds the rotating ASEAN chairmanship this year.

In another gesture reflecting warming ties, Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte visited three Chinese warships on Monday that would berthed in his hometown of Davao city on the southern island of Mindanao.

“This is part of confidencebuilding and goodwill and to show we are friends, andthat is why I welcome them,” he said.

Duterte also repeated on Monday that he had agreed to hold joint China-Philippine military exercises.

Geng said on Tuesday at the news briefing that Beijing welcomes Duterte’s visit to the warships, “which reflects increasing mutual political trust between the two sides”.

He said the nations’ ties have “improved comprehensively” since last year and brought tangible benefits to the people.

“This fully confirmed that friendly cooperation is the right choice that is in line with fundamental interests of the two countries and the two peoples.”

Wang Baofu, a military strategist at the National Defence University of the People’s Liberation Army, said the Chinese warships visited the Philippines at the invitation of Duterte.

“The visit of the warships, under such a situation ... is very significant and has drawn close attention from countries in the region,” Wang said in an analysis issued on the Defense Ministry’s website.

“It is not a symbolic move, but an important step for the two sides to build up military and strategic mutual trust.”

AChinese naval fleet completed a three-day visit to the Philippines onMonday. The first such visit in seven years provides the latest proof of the two countries’ resolve to continuously expand bilateral interaction and deepen political mutual trust. After paying a visit to the Chinese warship docked in his hometown of Davao City, Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte said he is open to the idea of conducting joint military exercises with China. This trust-building gesture is just one of the many examples set by the Philippine leader in his efforts to improve ties with China.

Since taking office in July, Duterte has been seeking to dispel the bad blood in bilateral ties and to usher in a cordial atmosphere so both countries can put behind them their skirmishes over maritime disputes, which were exacerbated during the tenure of his predecessor Benigno Aquino III, and advance their cooperation in a wide range of fields.

Thanks to the efforts of both sides, the relationship between Beijing andManila is in a much better shape now, and tensions in their South China Sea disputes have subsequently abated.

As this year’s chair of the summit of the Association of Southeast AsianNations, the Philippines, under Duterte, has also played a constructive role in pushing for greater consensus among the members of the bloc to resolve the South China Sea disputes through peaceful negotiations.

The ASEAN summit statement delivered by Duterte on Sunday did not include strong wording about the South China Sea issue, which marked a major departure from the provocative attitudes and deeds of the previous Philippine government.

Beijing andManila have also agreed to establish two-way consultation on the South China Sea issue. Their first bilateral meeting is scheduled for this month, and diplomats from both countries will discuss issues of common concern and the promotion of maritime and security cooperation.

Meanwhile, China and ASEAN are working hard to complete the drafting of a framework for the Code of Conduct for the South China Sea by midyear. At this important juncture, it would be counterproductive for any party to act in an irresponsible way.

Even with the rosier picture for bilateral ties, it is not surprising that there are still some differences between the two countries. Last month, remarks by the Philippine side on disputed isles in the South China Sea caused unnecessary concern.

Greater communication and engagement would bridge the differences and enable both sides to cherish the hard-won fruits in bilateral ties and pursue more.