Tension in S. China Sea easing: Surin<\/p>\n
BANGKOK (Agencies): Tensions arising from rival territorial
\nclaims in the South China Sea have eased as claimants move toward
\nforging a code to govern activities, Thai Foreign Minister Surin
\nPitsuwan said on Thursday.<\/p>\n
Ministers attending Asia's only security working group
\n\"concurred that the situation is not serious,\" Surin said in a
\nstatement after the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) security working
\ngroup wrapped up its discussions.<\/p>\n
\"Tension is not being built in that area,\" said Surin who
\nchaired the discussions.<\/p>\n
The South China Sea is considered a potential military
\nflashpoint because of rival claims to islands there, making it a
\nregular issue of concern at the annual security forum of the
\nAssociation of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).<\/p>\n
ASEAN members Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines and Vietnam
\nhave laid partial or entire claims to the South China Sea's
\nSpratly Islands along with China and Taiwan.<\/p>\n
All except Brunei have stationed troops on the islands.<\/p>\n
ASEAN also includes Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Myanmar,
\nSingapore and Thailand<\/p>\n
The Philippines, the weakest militarily among the claimants,
\nhas accused China of occupying territories claimed by Manila over
\nthe past three years, straining diplomatic ties.<\/p>\n
ASEAN and China are currently hammering out a code of conduct
\nto govern activities in the South China Sea. Surin said a working
\ngroup would meet in Beijing in August to iron out disagreements.<\/p>\n
Surin said that the foreign ministers who attended the ARF
\nforum \"welcomed in particular the ongoing efforts between ASEAN
\nand China\" to develop the code of conduct.<\/p>\n
The ARF also includes Australia, Canada, China, the European
\nUnion, India, Japan, Mongolia, New Zealand, North Korea, Papua
\nNew Guinea, Russia, South Korea, and the United States.<\/p>\n
China expressed indignation on Thursday when other countries
\nraised the issue of disputed islands in the South China Sea at
\nAsia's largest security forum.<\/p>\n
Surin, chairman of the ARF meeting in Bangkok, defended their
\nright to do so.<\/p>\n
\"Individual members may express views that this or that issue
\nshould not be part of the ARF,\" Surin said. \"Well, it's already
\nbeen raised.\"<\/p>\n
He said China was helping frame a common code of conduct with
\nthe ASEAN aimed at preventing escalating tensions due to
\ncompeting claims in the South China Sea.<\/p>\n
But Zhang Haifeng, spokesman for the Chinese Foreign Ministry,
\nsaid the forum was no place to talk about it -- though all
\ncountries disputing control over the islands, except Taiwan, are
\nmembers.<\/p>\n
\"We will not discuss the issue of South China Sea in the forum
\nof the ARF because this is a bilateral issue,\" Zhang told
\nreporters.<\/p>\n
\"The Chinese side will continue to actively consult with the
\nrelevant countries until we reach agreements with them
\nrespectively,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Earlier this year, China and ASEAN states agreed that
\nconflicting territorial claims should be resolved on a
\ncountry-by-country basis and resolved to frame a non-legally
\nbinding code of conduct.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/tension-in-s-china-sea-easing-surin-1447893297",
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