China urged to exercise restraint over Spratlys

China urged to exercise restraint over Spratlys

KUALA LUMPUR (AFP): Malaysia has urged China to exercise
restraint in the Spratly islands after a recent row with the
Philippines but does not believe Beijing poses a security threat
to the region, reports said yesterday.

"I think China knows the position of ASEAN in regard to the
settlement of overlapping territorial claims," Malaysia's Defense
Minister Syed Hamid Albar was quoted as saying in the New Straits
Times daily.

"We have always held on to the view that resolution of such
conflicts should be done through negotiations and discussions,
rather than the use of aggressive means," he said.

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) includes
Spratly claimants Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines and Vietnam,
along with other members Indonesia, Singapore and Thailand. China
and Taiwan are the two other claimants.

Syed Hamid said: "The presence of any warships is not going to
help in any dispute resolution."

The Star newspaper said Syed Hamid hoped "China can explain
the incident and ensure that this will not recur as this has
disturbed countries" bordering the reputedly oil-rich island
chain.

The incursion of armed Chinese ships last month on Kota and
Panata, two of eight Spratly islands on which the Philippines has
garrisons, sparked fresh fears among Asian countries about
Beijing's intentions.

Syed Hamid called on China to hold talks with the Philippines,
saying Beijing had "given the understanding that they will employ
legal means and hold discussions on any matters that involve
territorial dispute."

The Chinese ships sailed out of the area Friday after
completing their mission of conducting "marine survey
measurements," a Chinese embassy statement said in Manila.

The statement reiterated that China believes it can do what it
wants in the area because it has jurisdiction over the entire
Spratlys, which it calls the Nansha islands.

All the Spratly claimants had previously affirmed an ASEAN
call to seek peaceful means of settling the dispute, seen by
analysts as a potential flashpoint for conflict in the fast-
growing region.

Manila slammed China's latest moves as a violation of a
bilateral code of conduct to avoid taking unilateral actions in
the Spratlys.

The Philippines and China engaged in a tense war of nerves in
1995 after Manila discovered permanent Chinese structures on a
reef it is claiming.