Beijing's sea baselines to be questioned<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): ASEAN will seek further clarification during
\neither the ASEAN Regional Forum or the Post Ministerial
\nConferences on a recent Chinese declaration in which Beijing
\nunilaterally defined its sea baselines in the South China Sea.<\/p>\n
Malaysia's Permanent Secretary of Foreign Affairs Kamil Jafaar
\nsaid that ASEAN will most likely pursue the matter in the coming
\nweek at a meeting which will involve Chinese Foreign Minister
\nQian Qichen.<\/p>\n
\"So maybe in the ASEAN-plus one meeting we may have the
\nopportunity of seeking clarification,\" he said referring to the
\nPost Ministerial Conferences in which individual ASEAN ministers
\naccompanied by officials from other members will meet with a
\ndialog partner.<\/p>\n
Malaysia is the coordinating country due to hold a meeting
\nwith China.<\/p>\n
\"We want to know the basis of the declaration. See what they
\nwill say,\" Jaafar said.<\/p>\n
China in May passed a declaration which defines its
\nterritorial sea borders in the South China Sea.<\/p>\n
The area is a potential flash point in the region with several
\ncountries having overlapping territorial claims. At least four
\nASEAN members -- Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines and Vietnam --
\nare directly involved in the disputed territory.<\/p>\n
ASEAN officials have questioned the grounds for Beijing's
\ndemarcation, arguing that their basis only applies to
\narchipelagic states.<\/p>\n
\"If China is an archipelagic nation then there is basis, but
\ndo you think that China is an archipelagic nation?\" Jaafar
\nquipped.<\/p>\n
Separately, Indonesia's Director General of Political Affairs
\nIzhar Ibrahim said yesterday Indonesia will bring up the issue
\nduring \"any forum possible\" but cited the ASEAN Regional Forum as
\nthe most likely one.<\/p>\n
He also asserted that Indonesia is questioning Beijing's
\nclaimed sea baselines and maintained that it was unapplicable
\nconsidering China's position as a continental and not an
\narchipelagic state.<\/p>\n
Izhar said he expects China to \"define more clearly\" the
\nborders as it has delineated in its legislation.<\/p>\n
He added that if the legislation were applied, China could
\nextend its claims further to Indonesia's Natuna Island.<\/p>\n
The seabed surrounding the islands are potentially rich in
\nnatural gas which Indonesia hopes to exploit in the coming years.<\/p>\n
Kamil Jafaar stressed that whether it was in the ASEAN
\nRegional Forum or Post Ministerial Conferences, ASEAN will follow
\nthrough on the issue, adding that it could also be discussed
\nbilaterally and during the annual ASEAN-China dialog.<\/p>\n
Nonetheless, given its complexity of the overlapping claims,
\nhe cautioned against expecting any quick solution to the general
\ndispute surrounding the South China Sea.<\/p>\n
\"Yet I think we have to persevere to find a solution
\nacceptable to all...It's not easy to solve everything,\" he
\nremarked. (pwn\/mds)`<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/beijings-sea-baselines-to-be-questioned-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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