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Asean sec-gen Minh: Urgent to engage China over sea spat

KUALA LUMPUR: Actions by some claimant countries in the South China Sea dispute are further complicating Asean’s diplomatic efforts to draw up a binding Code of Conduct (CoC) to help defuse the ongoing spat.

Asean secretary-general Le Luong Minh described the recent developments in the disputed area as being dangerous and complicated, posing a challenge to the regional grouping.

“What is urgent is for Asean to engage China in a more substantive discussion on the elements of the CoC to overcome this challenge as there has been a widening gap between the diplomatic track and the actual condition at sea,” Minh told The Star in an exclusive interview on the sidelines of the two-day 26th Asean Summit which starts Sunday.

Asean and China agreed in 2002 on a Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DoC), a document which, among others, reaffirmed the parties’ commitment to international law.

China, Taiwan and Asean members Malaysia, Philippines, Vietnam and Brunei are disputing the maritime boundaries in the resource rich seas.

The parties have since been working to draw up an official and binding CoC to further promote peace and stability.

Tensions in the disputed areas have continued to flare up, due to actions by several claimant countries.

China in the most recent incident was reported to be claiming parts of the contested Fiery Cross Reef in the Spratly Islands.

Minh said Asean has engaged China in a number of consultations at the Senior Officials Level and agreed on certain measures such as the establishment of a hotline.

Minh admitted that he was concerned with the recent developments at sea in the disputed area.

“The situation now at sea is contrary to the spirit of Article 5 of the DoC and that is a concern,” he said.

The Article states that the parties in the dispute would undertake to exercise self-restraint in the conduct of activities that would complicate or escalate disputes and affect peace and stability.

The Summit is expected to urge for more self-restraint in the conduct of activities and for claimant countries not to resort to the use or threat of force.-thestar

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