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Tensions flare over South China Sea at Asian summit
Topic Started: Nov 20 2012, 09:24 AM (879 Views)
arvcab
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http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/global-filipino/world/11/19/12/tensions-flare-over-south-china-sea-asian-summit

PHNOM PENH - Japan warned on Monday that a row over the South China Sea could damage "peace and stability" in Asia as China stalled on a plan to ease tensions and disagreements flared between the Philippines and Cambodia over the dispute.

The acrimony provided an uneasy backdrop to U.S. President Barack Obama's arrival in Cambodia for a regional summit where he is expected to urge China and Southeast Asian nations to resolve the row, one of Asia's biggest security issues.

Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda challenged efforts by summit host Cambodia, a staunch China ally, to limit discussions on the mineral-rich sea, where China's territorial claims overlap those of four Southeast Asian countries and of Taiwan.

"Prime Minister Noda raised the issue of the South China Sea, noting that this is of common concern for the international community, which would have direct impact on peace and stability of the Asia-Pacific," a Japanese government statement said after Noda met leaders from the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

That followed a statement on Sunday from Kao Kim Hourn, a Cambodian foreign ministry official, who said Southeast Asian leaders "had decided that they will not internationalise the South China Sea from now on."

In a sign of tension, Philippine President Benigno Aquino disputed the Cambodian statement and said no such agreement was reached, voicing his objections in tense final minutes of discussions between Noda and Southeast Asian leaders.

As Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen began to conclude the meeting with Noda, Aquino abruptly raised his hand and tersely interjected.


"There were several views expressed yesterday on ASEAN unity which we did not realise would be translated into an ASEAN consensus," he said, according to his spokesman. "For the record, this was not our understanding. The ASEAN route is not the only route for us. As a sovereign state, it is our right to defend our national interests."

Alternative diplomatic routes for the Philippines would likely involve the United States, one of its closest allies, which has said it has a national interest in freedom of navigation through the South China Sea's vital shipping lanes.

ASEAN on Sunday agreed to formally ask China to start talks on a Code of Conduct (CoC) aimed at easing the risk of naval flashpoints, according to its Secretary General, Surin Pitsuwan. But Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao appeared to play down the need for urgent action in talks on Sunday night with Hun Sen.

Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Qin Gang said he could "not recall" Hun Sen making a formal request for talks.

"It takes some time for China and ASEAN to discuss the CoC," he said. He repeated Cambodia's statement that ASEAN had reached a "common position" not to internationalise the issue, directly contradicting Aquino.

Obama will meet Southeast Asian leaders on Monday evening before sitting down with Wen on Tuesday.

China's sovereignty claims over the stretch of water off its south coast and to the east of mainland Southeast Asia set it directly against U.S. allies Vietnam and the Philippines, while Brunei, Taiwan and Malaysia also lay claim to parts.

Sino-Japanese relations are also under strain after the Japanese government bought disputed islands known as Senkaku in Japan and Diaoyu in China from a private Japanese owner in September, triggering violent protests and calls for boycotts of Japanese products across China.

China prefers to address conflicts through one-on-one talks.

US military presence

Obama's visit to Cambodia, the first by a U.S. president, underlines an expansion of U.S. military and economic interests in Asia under last year's so-called "pivot" from conflicts in the Middle East and Afghanistan.

The Philippines, Australia and other parts of the region have seen a resurgence of U.S. warships, planes and personnel, since Obama began shifting foreign, economic and security policy towards Asia late last year.

Cambodia has used its powers as ASEAN chair this year to limit discussion on the South China Sea. Its apparent rewards include Chinese largesse, including a $100 million loan to set up Cambodia's largest cement plant signed the day Wen arrived.

Thailand, which holds the position of ASEAN's official coordinator with China, appeared to support the U.S. view that countries beyond ASEAN and China had a national interest in resolving the dispute.

At stake is control over what are believed to be significant reserves of oil and gas. Estimates for proven and undiscovered oil reserves in the entire sea range from 28 billion to as high as 213 billion barrels of oil, the U.S. Energy Information Administration said in a March 2008 report.

While the territorial row was a matter for the "parties concerned," maritime security and freedom of navigation were an international concern, said Sihasak Phuangketkeow, permanent secretary at Thailand's foreign ministry.

"If it comes to the broader issue of maritime security, meaning freedom of navigation, security of sea lanes, I think that is a concern of all countries," he told reporters.

The tensions illustrate the difficulty of forging a Southeast Asian consensus over how to deal with an increasingly assertive China. Southeast Asia had hoped avoid a repeat of an embarrassing breakdown of talks in July over competing claims in the mineral-rich waters, its biggest security challenge.

Washington insists its "pivot" is not about containing China or a permanent return to military bases of the past, but it has increased its military presence in the Philippines and other areas near vital sea lanes in the South China Sea.
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AZKALS
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Looks Like President Aquino Finally Lost his Patience Against the Cambodian Leader who Does and Says what China Wants him to Do ... :salute:


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Hong Nam
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Bought by China

20 Nov, 2012, 03.53PM IST, Reuters
Barack Obama urges restraint in tense Asian disputes

Full Article Here


PHNOM PENH: US President Barack Obama urged Asian leaders to rein in tensions in the South China Sea and other disputed territory but stopped short of firmly backing allies Japan, the Philippines and Vietnam in their disputes with China.

"President Obama's message is there needs to be a reduction of the tensions," Deputy National Security Adviser Ben Rhodes said after the East Asia Summit in the Cambodian capital Phnom Penh. Also present at the summit were leaders from China, Japan, the 10-member Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN), India, South Korea, Australia and New Zealand.

"There is no reason to risk any potential escalation, particularly when you have two of the world's largest economies - China and Japan - associated with some of those disputes."

In Asia, those trade tensions overlap with friction over Chinese sovereignty claims on disputed islands. On Monday, the Philippines accused summit host Cambodia of trying to stifle discussions on the South China Sea, where Chinese claims overlap with those of ASEAN members the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia and Brunei, as well as Taiwan.

It was the second time in five months China appeared to use its influence over Cambodia to stifle debate over the issue.


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AVBsupersonic
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I salute PNoy! :salute: :patrioticpinoy:

Hopefully after all of these happenings, sana this will start up a real AFP Modernization para di tayo tnatarantado ng mga sakim na neighbors natin! :pushup:
Edited by AVBsupersonic, Nov 21 2012, 02:32 AM.
"Some are just lucky that they're not under oath and are not classified!"- Blue badge
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truegrit


Cambodia PM is another authoritarian ruler who wants to stay as long as he wants to (till 2020) and speaks like the Chinese leader/politicians too.... Cambodia is clearly a Puppet of Communist China.

No wonder China supplied Cambodia with 100 tanks and several armoured vehicles coz its anticipating an incursion with Vietnam coz of Cambodian support for China regarding the WPS. This is Railroading the decision in behalf of ASEAN that all its member states won't Internationalize said dispute...
Edited by truegrit, Nov 21 2012, 03:56 AM.
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gammy322
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With what had transpired in this ASEAN meeting, we hope PNOY will expedite and fast-track all memoranda and agreements of the AFP Modernization purchases so that we will never be bullied once and for all! That is the only way we are going to. Diplomatic interference is good but we need to go forward and must be prepared for whatever comes next if Diplomacy never materialize...hay cambodia... :dunno: :dunno: :dunno:
Edited by gammy322, Nov 21 2012, 06:35 AM.
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Hong Nam
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Bought by China

Quote:
 
Brunei gets ASEAN chair

Rabiatul Kamit
PHNOM PENH, CAMBODIA

Tuesday, November 20, 2012

BRUNEI took over the ASEAN chairmanship for 2013 from Cambodia today backed with full support from its counterparts. The symbolic handover ceremony was held at the Peace Palace in Phnom Penh during the culmination of the 21st ASEAN Summit and related summits. - Source

Thank God for that. Now, hopefully without Scumbodia in the chair, the Philippines can make better progress in the diplomatic arena.

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gammy322
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Welcome BRUNEI!!! Get lost SCUMBODIA! :banana:
Edited by gammy322, Nov 21 2012, 02:30 PM.
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