China not ready to sign Spratlys code of conduct

China not ready to sign Spratlys code of conduct

KUALA LUMPUR (Agencies): China said on Tuesday no agreement
had been reached on a code of conduct over the disputed Spratly
islands, but described such an agreement as "important", after
talks here between Chinese and Malaysian leaders.

"We regard the code of conduct as an important document
between China and ASEAN (the Association of Southeast Asian
Nations)," said Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Zhu Bangzao.

Zhu Bangzao, speaking after talks between visiting Chinese
Premier Zhu Rongji and Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad,
added: "The document should be formulated in a gradual manner and
with all seriousness and prudence...

"At the moment, between China and ASEAN and also within ASEAN,
agreement has not been reached on the contents of such a
document.

"We hope that after this Ten Plus One meeting (ASEAN and
China), detailed and in-depth discussions can continue."
The proposed code is expected to be among key topics at a meeting
of leaders from ASEAN in Manila on Sunday.

Host Philippines hopes it will be adopted during the summit,
which will also be attended by Zhu, Japanese Prime Minister Keizo
Obuchi and South Korean President Kim Dae Jung.

Philippine Foreign Secretary Domingo Siazon said last Saturday
the proposed code is aimed to prevent war over the islands. He
said international arbitration could provide a final solution to
the various claims to islands including the potentially oil-rich
Spratlys.

Malaysia and China are among six nations locked in overlapping
claims over the Spratlys chain in the South China Sea, believed
to be rich in oil. Other claimants are Brunei, the Philippines,
Vietnam and Taiwan.

Manila has accused China of occupying and expanding permanent
structures on Philippine-claimed Mischief Reef. China has in turn
accused the Philippine navy of deliberately sinking two Chinese
fishing boats earlier this year in separate incidents which
Manila said were accidental.

Vietnamese troops on a Spratlys shoal claimed by Manila fired
warning shots at a Philippine Air Force reconnaissance plane last
month.

The proposed code calls for a halt in the occupation of
unoccupied reefs, among other provisions.

But ASEAN secretary general Rodolfo Severino said Monday the
"text is still under discussion so whether it gets concluded now
or later is still uncertain."

Disagreements on the geographical coverage as well as
"substantive elements" of the proposed code could delay its
approval, he added.

Zhu and Mahathir agreed on the need for a code during their
talks.

"Everyone of us agreed that there is a need for a code of
conduct ...," Malaysian Foreign Minister Syed Hamid Albar said
afterwards. But he said the document should be prepared carefully
because of its long term implications.

Taiwan, on Tuesday, urged countries that station troops on
disputed South China Sea islands to replace them with police or
civilian units to help reduce the danger of clashes.

Taiwan announced last week that it plans to replace marines
with coast guard units on the Pratas archipelago and Taiping, the
biggest of the Spratly Islands.

Although the coast guard forces will be armed, the government
said they could help lower tensions in the area because they will
act more like a police force than an occupying army dedicated to
fighting off intruders.

The Pratas archipelago is about 432 kilometers from Taiwan's
southern tip, and Taiping is about 1,120 kilometers south of
Taiwan.