China thwarts draft Spratlys's code

China thwarts draft Spratlys's code

MANILA (AFP): China on Thursday spurned a call by Southeast
Asian nations to support a draft "code of conduct" aimed at
preventing clashes and easing tensions in the Spratly islands and
other hotly disputed South China Sea territories.

An agreement on the guidelines governing military activities
in the contested area would have crowned a major regional summit
here at the weekend involving the Association of Southeast Asian
Nations (ASEAN) and China, as well as Japan and South Korea.

Diplomats said the guidelines cannot be signed because further
consultations were needed between Beijing and the 10-member
ASEAN.

"We do not expect a conclusion of negotiations at this time,"
Philippine Foreign Minister Domingo Siazon told reporters.

"We will not have enough time to discuss all the issues,"
Siazon said, adding that a Chinese draft of the proposed code and
an ASEAN version were both on the table.

Siazon said there had been "much progress" on the issue, but
admitted there was concern that the lack of a deal could trigger
more uncertainty in the South China Sea.

"Of course, accidents can happen, and this is what concerns
us. Even with a code of conduct accidents can happen."

Even before the Manila talks, China had already signaled its
reluctance to sign the code anytime soon. It has steadfastly
refused to take up South China Sea disputes in any multilateral
forum, insisting on bilateral discussions with rival claimants.

The Spratlys, a reputedly mineral-rich archipelago, are
claimed in whole or in part by China, Taiwan and ASEAN members
Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines and Vietnam. The parcels are
also the subject of rival claims in the South China Sea.

The draft calls for a "halt to any new occupation of reefs,
shoals and islets in the disputed area to ensure peace and
stability in the region," said a statement issued by the
Philippine hosts.

The Philippines meanwhile pledged to make another effort to
remove a stranded ship from a reef north of the Spratlys also
claimed by China amid fears the wrangle could cloud the visit to
the summit by Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji.

As the countdown to the weekend's showpiece meeting continued,
finance ministers declared the region out of recession but
pledged to press ahead with reforms to blunt "significant risks"
that could cause problems down the road.

They said ASEAN economies should post between two and three
percent growth on average this year, rebounding from the misery
of a seven percent slump in 1998, and was poised for "higher and
sustainable growth" from 2000.

But a statement from the ministers warned: "While our
economies look much healthier compared to a year ago, the
situation still remains vulnerable and there are risks that need
to be addressed if our economies are to experience high
sustainable quality growth."

ASEAN members Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines and
Thailand were left reeling from a mid-1997 currency meltdown that
pitched the region into its worst post-war economic crisis.

ASEAN trade ministers also met Thursday to prepare for their
leaders' summit. They discussed regional trade issues as well as
next week's meeting of the World Trade Organization (WTO) in
Seattle.

A day after water cannons were used on protesters who dodged a
massive security operation, more controversy erupted Thursday as
community leaders claimed four people died when a shanty town
less than a kilometer from the summit venue was demolished.

"Since demolition began on November 19, one sixty year-old
woman and three children aged two weeks to three years old were
confirmed to have died," said community leader Job Garde.

Manila police Chief Superintendent Edgardo Aglipay denied the
claims.