Spratlys divide China, ASEAN<\/p>\n
Following China's surprise bold announcement to the ASEAN
\nforeign ministers in Brunei earlier this month, that it would
\nfollow the convention in the UN Law of the Sea over the Spratlys,
\nBeijing has further offered an olive branch to the Philippines.<\/p>\n
Last week, the two countries agreed to set up expert panels to
\ndiscuss the legal bases for their conflicting claims in the South
\nChina Sea.<\/p>\n
The two sides also agreed on the principals of a \"code of
\nconduct\" in the region, the shape and details of which were to be
\ndiscussed further.<\/p>\n
The code would act as a guide, to peaceful approaches, to the
\nquestion of building confidence and trust.<\/p>\n
The discussion on the legal basis for the claims would also
\ntake into account international law and the UN convention on the
\nLaw of the Sea.<\/p>\n
The two sides also agreed to look into modes of cooperation in
\nthe region, in order to promote confidence and preserve
\nstability.<\/p>\n
Mischief Reef in the Spratlys was occupied by China earlier
\nthis year.<\/p>\n
China maintained that the structures built by them on the reef
\nwere for peaceful purposes, while the Philippines emphasized they
\nwere a source of \"deep concern for the people of the Philippines
\nbecause of its proximity to the province of Palawan and because
\nit constituted a change in the situation in the South China Sea.\"<\/p>\n
The South China Sea dispute is clearly one of the most
\ndifficult issues between China and ASEAN, and it so happens that
\nat this point Beijing's relations with the U.S. have deteriorated
\nto the lowest level.<\/p>\n
But the Chinese have yet to discard their traditional claims
\nof sovereignty, that \"we were there long before others and this
\npart of the territory of the sea belongs to us...\"<\/p>\n
Last week's announcement was a major change but it does not
\nlead to a completely new direction. The consolation is that the
\nChinese would like to consider international law in settling the
\nSpratlys dispute.<\/p>\n
Let us hope this is the beginning of a more tame China with
\nregards to disputes in the South China Sea.<\/p>\n
-- The Nation, Bangkok<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/spratlys-divide-china-asean-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }