China’s agreement to begin discussions with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) on the fine print of a code of conduct framework for the disputed South China Sea will be a “stabilizer” for the region, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang said on Monday.
China’s agreement to begin discussions with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) on the fine print of a code of conduct framework for the disputed South China Sea will be a “stabilizer” for the region, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang said on Monday.
“China’s greatest hope is for peace and stability in the South China Sea,” Li told Asean leaders in Manila.
Southeast Asia and China foreign ministers in August adopted a negotiating framework for a code of conduct in the South China Sea, a move they hailed as progress but seen by critics as a tactic to buy China time to consolidate its maritime power.
Li, addressing Asean leaders during a summit in Manila, said there was a consensus on moving forward and to try to peacefully resolve the thorny issue.
“We hope the talks on the code of conduct will bolster mutual understanding and trust. We will strive under the agreement to reach a consensus on achieving early implementation of the code of conduct,” Li said, according to a transcript of his speech released by China’s foreign ministry on Tuesday.
Li didn’t give a time frame, but said he hoped this move would be a “stabilizer” for the region.
Philippine presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said in a statement on Monday that Asean and China, at a summit presided over by President Rodrigo Duterte, had agreed to open negotiations on the code of conduct.
“One of the outcomes of the meetings is to commence the negotiations on a substantive and effective code of conduct in the South China Sea after concluding the framework agreement on the code of conduct,” Roque said.
He said Mr. Duterte did not refer to the South China Sea disputes at the Asean leaders’ meeting with US President Donald Trump on Monday, but Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak mentioned it in the bloc’s common statement during the sitdown with the US leader.
