China downplays frictions with Asian neighbours

Confident of initiatives like BRI gaining momentum, booming trade

BEIJING: China sought to play down increasing tensions with its Asian neighbours over the simmering South China Sea dispute and the eastern Ladakh border issue with India, saying initiatives like BRI are gaining momentum and trade is booming with regional countries.

China has given high priority to its neighbouring countries in its overall diplomatic work, Lou Qinjian, spokesperson for China’s parliament - the National People’s Congress (NPC) - said while answering a question on China’s tensions with Asian neighbours including criticism that Beijing is turning the South China Sea dispute into “dangerous flashpoint” and the “unresolved issues” in the region.

Lou said, “all the countries in the Indo-China peninsula, Central Asia have committed to build a community with a shared future with China”, a preferred phrase of Chinese President Xi Jinping to highlight the future of China and the rest of the world is interlinked.

“You mentioned the South China Sea. Let me stress that China will continue to safeguard its territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests. At the same time, we will properly handle relevant issues with relevant countries through dialogue and consultation and jointly safeguard peace and tranquillity in the South China Sea”.

China claims most of the South China Sea, while the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan have counter-claims. In recent months, tensions simmered between China and the Philippines as Manila, backed by the US, stepped up efforts to assert its rights over the part of the South China Sea firmly resisted by the Chinese coast guard ships. Lou spoke about tensions with neighbours without directly mentioning the eastern Ladakh border standoff with India.