The South China Sea territorial disputes appear to have taken a back seat as South-east Asian foreign ministers, in meetings in Manila this week, focus instead on reaching a consensus on how to deal with North Korea and the growing threat of Islamist extremism..
The South China Sea territorial disputes appear to have taken a back seat as South-east Asian foreign ministers, in meetings in Manila this week, focus instead on reaching a consensus on how to deal with North Korea and the growing threat of Islamist extremism.
The disputes over the strategic waterway — most of which is claimed by China — have led to discord in the 10-member Asean in recent years. The Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia and Brunei have competing claims.
But a «soft draft» of a joint Asean communique, to be issued at the end of the foreign ministers’ meeting today, makes no mention of China arming and building islands in the South China Sea to assert its claims.
The closest reference to the islands is a sentence calling on all claimants to «avoid unilateral actions in disputed features that may further complicate the situation in keeping with the principle of peaceful resolution of disputes without resorting to the threat or use of force».
The ministers are expected to «reaffirm the importance of enhancing mutual trust and confidence, and exercising self-restraint in the conduct of activities».
They are also set to «celebrate» a two-page framework of a code of conduct meant to prevent conflicting territorial claims over the South China Sea from erupting into violent confrontations.
