Kuwait Times

Vietnam calls for ‘self restraint in disputed South China Sea

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SYDNEY: Vietnam and Australia called yesterday for “self-restraint” in the South China Sea and warned against the unilateral use of force, an obvious reference to China’s increasing­ly aggressive presence that has stirred concerns across the disputed region.

Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung met Australian counterpar­t Tony Abbott in Canberra, where they will sign a deal on issues including security and climate change.

Vietnam and other wary Southeast Asian countries have complained about China’s controvers­ial policy of land reclamatio­n on disputed isles in the South China Sea. Beijing in turn has said it is not seeking to overturn internatio­nal order.

Dung told the Australian parliament there was an imperative need to draw up a code of conduct for the South China Sea. “We agreed ... (to) exercise self-restraint and refrain from actions that may escalate the tension in the region, including the use of force to unilateral­ly change the status quo,” Dung said.

China claims about 90 percent of the South China Sea, displaying its reach on official maps with a so-called nine-dash dotted line that stretches deep into the maritime heart of Southeast Asia.

Vietnam, the Philippine­s, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan also have claims to parts of the potentiall­y energy-rich waters that are crossed by key global shipping lanes.

Beijing is committed to working toward regional stability, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman said on Wednesday, when asked about the statement.

“We hope the relevant countries in the region can come together with China,” Hong Lei said in a regular briefing. “We hope that countries outside the region maintain a neutral position, particular­ly on the issue of sovereignt­y.”

Last week, China expressed its anger at the Vietnamese head of the Associatio­n of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) for comments he made on the disputed South China Sea, rejecting Chinese claims based on the nine-dash line.

Australia and China sealed a landmark free trade agreement in November that would significan­tly expand ties between them. China is Australia’s largest trading partner. Dung said Australia and Vietnam were also committed to working together closely and deepening their friendship. — Reuters

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