Asean, China, other partners push sea code

BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN – The Unite States oine the Association of Southeast Asian Nations ASEAN yester ay in pushing for ear y conc usion of a co e of con uct in the South China Sea ith China to ease tensions among c aimant-countries an fin means to reso e the ispute ithout resorting to threats or the use of force

apanese Prime inister Shin o A e has e presse serious concern o er efforts to a ter the status uo in the South China Sea through force an intimi ation

uni Sato press secretary for apan’s foreign ministry sai any issue shou e sett e peacefu y

A e mentione to Presi ent A uino the importance of eeping unity among ASEAN mem ers he a e

A uino agree ith A e an the t o ea ers o e to continue to co a orate on arious issues Sato sai

ther ia ogue partners of ASEAN – inc u ing China apan South orea Austra ia Ne ea an Russia an In ia – stresse uring the th East Asia Summit the importance of maintaining peace an sta i ity in the South China Sea

They sai the isputes must e sett e through frien y consu tations an negotiations in accor ance ith uni ersa y recogni e princip es of internationa a inc u ing the Unite Nations Con ention on the a of the Sea

In the first US-ASEAN summit participate in y Secretary of State ohn erry the ASEAN an the US e come the recent positi e progress of ia ogue on the Co e of Con uct in the South China Sea

We encourage re e ant parties to eep ia ogue an consu tations for the time y attainment of the C C the chairman’s statement of the first ASEAN-US summit rea

The ASEAN an its ia ogue partners a so e come the commitment of the parties in o e in the ispute to fu y an effecti e y imp ement the Dec aration on the Con uct of Parties in the South China Sea D C inc u ing the gui e ines for the imp ementation of the D C an to or to ar s the a option of a C C on the asis of consensus

China has conflicting territoria c aims ith ASEAN mem ers inc u ing the Phi ippines Brunei a aysia an ietnam

Su tan a i assana Bo iah ho turne o er the chairmanship of ASEAN to yanmar at the en of the summit stresse the importance of ASEAN unity an centra ity in its efforts to e e op a C C

In the oint statement of ASEAN an China issue after their th summit an the commemoration of the th anni ersary of the ASEAN-China Strategic Partnership the ea ers e presse commitment to or to ar s the conc usion of a C C a so on the asis of consensus through continuous negotiations

They recogni e the D C crafte in as an important mi estone ocument em o ying the co ecti e commitment of ASEAN mem er-states an China to promote free om of na igation peace sta i ity mutua trust an peacefu sett ement of isputes in accor ance ith internationa a s