China and India join ASEAN security pact<\/p>\n
The Jakarta Post, Nusa Dua, Bali<\/p>\n
China and India signed the ASEAN Treaty of Amity and
\nCooperation on Wednesday, renouncing war as a means to settle
\ndisputes among signatory countries.<\/p>\n
In the two signing ceremonies attended by the 10 heads of
\nstate of the ASEAN member countries, Chinese Prime Minister Wen
\nJiabao and Indian Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee signed the
\ndocument.<\/p>\n
\"The most important element of the document is the
\nrenouncement of war as a means to settle disputes among related
\ncountries,\" Indonesian Minister of Foreign Affairs Hassan
\nWirayuda said.<\/p>\n
He said the treaty bound China and India to maintain peaceful
\nrelations and not to resort to violence to resolve conflicts.<\/p>\n
\"This is a strategic cooperation, and Russia is also expected
\nto sign the treaty next year,\" the minister said.<\/p>\n
The treaty was introduced by ASEAN countries during the first
\nASEAN summit in 1976, also in Bali. It called on the Southeast
\nAsia countries to reject the use of force in the region.<\/p>\n
China and India are the first dialog partner countries of the
\nregional grouping to sign the treaty.<\/p>\n
Russia has stated its intention to sign the treaty and was
\noriginally scheduled to do so at this summit, but it is still
\nawaiting approval from its parliament. It is now expected to sign
\nthe treaty in June next year, during the ASEAN ministerial
\nmeeting.<\/p>\n
Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad welcomed the
\ndevelopment, saying the signing of the treaty by China and India
\nwould further ensure peace in the region.<\/p>\n
\"It will be a good thing for the 2.4 billion people of ASEAN,
\nChina and India. The chances for them to live in peace will be
\nmuch better,\" Mahathir said in a press conference at the end of
\nthe ASEAN Summit.<\/p>\n
Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi also welcomed the
\ndecision. \"We need to carry out cooperation, to solve problems in
\nthe region and explicitly state that we shall seek to contribute
\nto the peace and stability in East Asia.\"<\/p>\n
Hassan said Indonesia expected the ASEAN dialog partners Japan
\nand South Korea would also sign the treaty in the future.<\/p>\n
\"They have said that they are carefully considering signing
\nthe treaty,\" Hassan said, underlining that ASEAN wished to see
\nJapan join the fold as soon as possible.<\/p>\n
Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs acting director general
\nfor ASEAN, Marty Natalegawa, said the Japanese delegation
\ninformed the meeting that they were considering whether signing
\nthe treaty would limit the country's strategic cooperation with
\nthe United States.<\/p>\n
\"You should pose the question to the Japanese officials. We
\nhave been told that there have been some questions within Japan
\nabout how this will impact on the special relation with the
\nU.S.,\" Marty said.<\/p>\n
\"They are considering whether the treaty will limit their
\ncooperation with the United States, but it is best to have the
\nquestion answered by the Japanese side,\" the Indonesian official
\nsaid.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/china-and-india-join-asean-security-pact-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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