Battle of Bach Dang River
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Malaysia urges ASEAN to unite over South China Sea
Monday, August 13, 2012
KOTA KINABALU: Malaysias foreign minister urged Southeast Asian countries on Sunday to settle their overlapping claims in the South China Sea before bringing them up with Beijing.
Anifah Amans comments, following an hour-long meeting with his Chinese counterpart Yang Jiechi, imply that Malaysia wants ASEAN to present a more united front against an increasingly assertive China.
Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines and Vietnam, all members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), have overlapping claims in the resource-rich sea, as does Taiwan. China claims sovereignty over almost all of it. Anifah said a repeat of confrontation, such as a June standoff between Philippine and Chinese ships over Scarborough Shoal, should be avoided. We are confident we can resolve this matter. China is also earnest in its desire in finding solutions. This issue can be settled through peaceful means, he told reporters. There are overlapping claims by member countries. Let us discuss these among ASEAN countries first before we talk to China, he added.
We can only achieve this objective in the South China Sea if all parties agree. Then China can appreciate this and realise it is ASEANs wish.
Anifah did not give any time frame for such an ASEAN meeting. ASEAN foreign ministers failed to move ahead on the South China Sea issue at a regional ministers meeting in Phnom Penh in July. The dispute prevented ASEAN from producing a joint communique for the first time in the blocs 45-year history.
Chinas foreign minister, who met Malaysias prime minister on Saturday, did not attend a press conference with Anifah but told reporters that China firmly supported ASEAN community building. We firmly support the idea continuously that ASEAN is in the drivers seat in terms of East Asian cooperation, he said. We agreed that we will continue to work together in cooperation and accommodating each others concerns and interests.
Anifah said that ASEAN and China should work toward the early conclusion of a long-stalled regional code of conduct designed to reduce tensions over fishing, shipping rights and oil and gas exploration in the South China Sea. afp
Daily Times - Leading News Resource of Pakistan
Monday, August 13, 2012
KOTA KINABALU: Malaysias foreign minister urged Southeast Asian countries on Sunday to settle their overlapping claims in the South China Sea before bringing them up with Beijing.
Anifah Amans comments, following an hour-long meeting with his Chinese counterpart Yang Jiechi, imply that Malaysia wants ASEAN to present a more united front against an increasingly assertive China.
Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines and Vietnam, all members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), have overlapping claims in the resource-rich sea, as does Taiwan. China claims sovereignty over almost all of it. Anifah said a repeat of confrontation, such as a June standoff between Philippine and Chinese ships over Scarborough Shoal, should be avoided. We are confident we can resolve this matter. China is also earnest in its desire in finding solutions. This issue can be settled through peaceful means, he told reporters. There are overlapping claims by member countries. Let us discuss these among ASEAN countries first before we talk to China, he added.
We can only achieve this objective in the South China Sea if all parties agree. Then China can appreciate this and realise it is ASEANs wish.
Anifah did not give any time frame for such an ASEAN meeting. ASEAN foreign ministers failed to move ahead on the South China Sea issue at a regional ministers meeting in Phnom Penh in July. The dispute prevented ASEAN from producing a joint communique for the first time in the blocs 45-year history.
Chinas foreign minister, who met Malaysias prime minister on Saturday, did not attend a press conference with Anifah but told reporters that China firmly supported ASEAN community building. We firmly support the idea continuously that ASEAN is in the drivers seat in terms of East Asian cooperation, he said. We agreed that we will continue to work together in cooperation and accommodating each others concerns and interests.
Anifah said that ASEAN and China should work toward the early conclusion of a long-stalled regional code of conduct designed to reduce tensions over fishing, shipping rights and oil and gas exploration in the South China Sea. afp
Daily Times - Leading News Resource of Pakistan