Chinese and Southeast Asian diplomats have pledged to finalize a nonaggression pact for the South China Sea within the next three years, according to two regional diplomats. The commitment was made during a meeting in Beijing last week, where concerns were expressed over recent confrontations in the disputed waters.
The Philippines has lodged protests against what it perceives as increasingly dangerous and provocative actions by China’s coast guard and navy ships in recent months. On October 22nd, two Chinese vessels blocked and collided with two Philippine ships near the disputed Second Thomas Shoal in the South China Sea.
In response to the collisions, the United States reiterated its commitment to defend the Philippines, its long-standing treaty ally, in the event of an armed attack in the contested waters. The Philippine government summoned a Chinese diplomat in Manila to issue a strongly worded protest.
During three days of talks hosted by Beijing, diplomats from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) expressed their concerns about the recent confrontations. The two diplomats who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity, as they were not authorized to discuss the issue, revealed that China and the Philippines presented conflicting accounts of the encounters at sea and showed videos of the standoffs.
The Beijing talks marked the latest round of negotiations between China and ASEAN to establish a “code of conduct” aimed at preventing a larger armed conflict in the South China Sea that could involve the United States. The two diplomats disclosed that a meeting in July between ASEAN foreign ministers and their Chinese counterpart in Jakarta, Indonesia, stated that the talks, which have faced delays and lasted for years, could be concluded within three years.
China, along with Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, Vietnam, and Taiwan, has been involved in a territorial dispute in the contested waters, which serve as a crucial trade route and are believed to contain significant oil and gas reserves.
The contested territory has long been a potential flashpoint in Asia and has become a sensitive issue in the rivalry between the United States and China in the region. Last week, a Chinese fighter jet reportedly flew within 10 feet of an American B-52 bomber over the South China Sea, endangering both aircraft. The US Indo-Pacific Command blamed both countries for the incident, while China and the US exchanged allegations.
While the US does not claim territorial rights in the South China Sea, it has emphasized the importance of freedom of navigation, overflight, and peaceful resolution of disputes in the region. The US has challenged China’s expansive territorial claims and Beijing has responded angrily, warning the US to refrain from interfering in what it considers a purely Asian dispute.
Source: https://apnews.com/hub/asia-pacific
