US-ASEAN silent on China
Obama, Southeast Asian leaders call for peaceful settlement of maritime disputes
RANCHO MIRAGE, California – United States ( US) President Barack Obama and Southeast Asian leaders called for the peaceful resolution of maritime disputes at the conclusion of a two-day special summit here.
However, Obama and leaders of Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) avoided mentioning China in their joint statement at the end of the summit, indicating ASEAN’s nonconfrontational approach in dealing with disputes. Instead, they echoed broad principles on maritime security, including freedom of navigation and oversight, in the disputed territory.
Obama told a news conference that disputes must be resolved by legal means, including a case brought by the Philippines challenging China’s sweeping claims over most of the South China Sea.
China has refused to take part in the proceedings, but Obama said parties to the United Nations law of the seas are obligated to respect the ruling, expected later this year.
Obama, speaking at the end of the US- Association of Southeast
Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit, also called for a cessation of fresh land reclamation and militarization in the South China Sea while asserting the US right to operate freely in international seas.
“We discussed the need for tangible steps in the South China Sea to lower tensions including a halt to further reclamation, new construction and militarization of disputed areas,” he added.
But there are reports that China has deployed surface-to-air missiles reportedly deployed by China on one of the disputed islands in the South China Sea, prompting President Aquino to ask his Cabinet security cluster to check the existence of the warheads.
China has reportedly sent two batteries of eight missile launchers and a radar system to Wood Island in the Paracel Islands in the past week based on satellite images revealed by Fox News. The presence of the missiles was later confirmed by Defense Ministry of Taiwan.
Obama unfazed
Unfazed by China’s aggressive territorial claims in the disputed sea, Obama insisted that the United States would continue to fly, sail, and operate wherever international law allows,” adding they will support the right of allies to do the same.
At the secluded Sunnylands resort, Obama and the ASEAN leaders spent two days discussing trade cooperation, regional security issues such as counterterrorism and territorial dispute in the South China Sea. In recent months, China has built artificial islands and established airfields, ports and other facilities to bolster its territorial claims, causing alarm among Southeast Asian neighbors.
“The United States and ASEAN are reaffirming our strong commitment to a regional order where international rules and norms and the rights of all nations, large and small, are upheld,” Obama said
Earlier in the day, President Aquino cautioned about possible “chaos” in the region if the rule of law is totally ignored in dealing with maritime disputes in the South China Sea.
President Aquino made the pitch to countries, including China, to respect international law by abiding by the ruling of the UN-backed arbitral tribunal on Manila’s territorial case.
The US-ASEAN leaders also shared a commitment “to peaceful resolution of disputes, including full respect for legal and diplomatic processes, without resorting to the threat or use of force” in accordance with the 1982 United Nations Convention of the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
They also agreed to “maintain peace, security and stability in the region, ensuring maritime security and safety, including the rights of freedom of navigation and overflight and other lawful uses of the seas, and unimpeded lawful maritime commerce as described in the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea as well as non-militarization and self- restraint in the conduct of activities.”
Entrepreneurship
During the first day of the Sunnylands meeting, the leaders tackled effort on boosting entrepreneurship and innovation to attract trade and investment.
Obama said they also agreed on the importance of sustainable, inclusive economic growth as well as the nurturing of the youth to sustain peace, development, and stability for mutual benefit.
There was also an agreement to pursue policies that lead “to dynamic, open, and competitive economies that foster economic growth, job creation, innovation, entrepreneurship and connectivity, and that support SMEs and narrow the development gap,” the joint statement read.
Obama and all ASEAN leaders also agreed to ensure opportunities for all people through strengthening democracy, enhancing good governance and adherence to the rule of law, promoting and protecting human rights and fundamental freedoms, encouraging the promotion of tolerance and moderation, and protecting the environment.
On security, the leaders affirmed strong resolve to lead on global issues such as terrorism and violent extremism, trafficking in persons, drug trafficking, and illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing, as well as illicit trafficking of wildlife and timber.
They also agreed to address climate change and develop a climate-resilient, environmentally sustainable ASEAN, as well as to implement individual countries’ nationally determined contributions made under the Paris Climate Agreement.
A commitment to promote security and stability in cyberspace consistent with norms of responsible state behavior was also reached by Obama and the ASEAN.
Other agreements reached were strengthening people-to-people connectivity, promoting a global partnership for sustainable development, and enhancing collaboration at international and regional fora. (With reports from AP and Madel S. Namit)