ahfatzia
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PHNOM PENH : Thailand has urged all claimant countries in the South China Sea dispute to hold bilateral talks to solve their long-term problems.
Thailand believes states that claim ownership of the Spratly Islands should hold talks in line with China's intent, Foreign Minister Surapong Tovichakchaikul said yesterday in the Cambodian capital after a special meeting to discuss the issue.
Four Asean countries _ the Philippines, Vietnam, Brunei and Malaysia _ and China and Taiwan claim ownership of the islands.
Mr Surapong said Thailand is ready to talk with China if a joint communique is issued.
Asean foreign ministers yesterday could not agree on a joint communique on the South China Sea because they could not settle on the wording used in the document to show their unity.
The special meeting was attended by Asean foreign ministers and 10 dialogue partners to seek ways of issuing the joint communique.
Indonesian Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa said after the meeting that officials were still seeking a compromise on the text but no one would be 100% happy.
Mr Natalegawa said Cambodia, as the chairman of Asean this year, would reconvene the meeting so that Asean could have a common position soon.
Asean Secretary-General Surin Pitsuwan said the solution for the South China Sea issue still needs to be worked out through future meetings.
"They are still trying to polish some paragraphs to make them literally beautiful," said Mr Surin.
A diplomatic source said Vietnam tried to raise the issue in all meetings to seek support on the use of the term "exclusive economic zone" in the communique, allowing claimant countries to claim their rights over different areas.
The source said the South China Sea issue may also be top of the agenda for debate during the Asean Regional Forum retreat, which will be focused mainly on security issues in the region.
China does not want the South China Sea issue to be raised during today's meeting as it fears that the United States, which will also attend, will intervene.
Claimants urged to talk over islands | Bangkok Post: news
Thailand believes states that claim ownership of the Spratly Islands should hold talks in line with China's intent, Foreign Minister Surapong Tovichakchaikul said yesterday in the Cambodian capital after a special meeting to discuss the issue.
Four Asean countries _ the Philippines, Vietnam, Brunei and Malaysia _ and China and Taiwan claim ownership of the islands.
Mr Surapong said Thailand is ready to talk with China if a joint communique is issued.
Asean foreign ministers yesterday could not agree on a joint communique on the South China Sea because they could not settle on the wording used in the document to show their unity.
The special meeting was attended by Asean foreign ministers and 10 dialogue partners to seek ways of issuing the joint communique.
Indonesian Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa said after the meeting that officials were still seeking a compromise on the text but no one would be 100% happy.
Mr Natalegawa said Cambodia, as the chairman of Asean this year, would reconvene the meeting so that Asean could have a common position soon.
Asean Secretary-General Surin Pitsuwan said the solution for the South China Sea issue still needs to be worked out through future meetings.
"They are still trying to polish some paragraphs to make them literally beautiful," said Mr Surin.
A diplomatic source said Vietnam tried to raise the issue in all meetings to seek support on the use of the term "exclusive economic zone" in the communique, allowing claimant countries to claim their rights over different areas.
The source said the South China Sea issue may also be top of the agenda for debate during the Asean Regional Forum retreat, which will be focused mainly on security issues in the region.
China does not want the South China Sea issue to be raised during today's meeting as it fears that the United States, which will also attend, will intervene.
Claimants urged to talk over islands | Bangkok Post: news