China, for its part, said it is ready to “enhance” its dialogue with the US.
“China and US relations have continued to make progress this year,” Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi said, adding the sides agreed to “enhance our dialogue... to continue to expand our common ground.”
US Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton met with Yang on the sidelines of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)’s annual conference.
Sitting across from each other at a long table in a grand hall with chandeliers, Clinton stressed the different ways Washington and Beijing are cooperating. Yang spoke of building an even closer US-Chinese relationship. Neither side spoke about the South China Sea while reporters were allowed in the room.
Several Asian governments have expressed concern about China’s expansive maritime claims. Tensions have threatened to boil over in recent months, with a standoff between Chinese and Philippine ships and sharp disagreements between China and Vietnam.
China claims virtually the entire area and has created an entirely new city to administer it, sparking deep concern from rival claimants. The sea hosts about a third of the world’s cargo traffic, has rich fishing grounds and is believed to store vast oil and gas reserves.
“The United States has no territorial claims there and we do not take sides in disputes about territorial or maritime boundaries,” Clinton told foreign ministers gathered in Cambodia’s capital.
“But we do have an interest in freedom of navigation, the maintenance of peace and stability, respect for international law and unimpeded lawful commerce in the South China Sea.”
Clinton welcomed the meeting, saying a slew of joint initiatives including disaster relief, forestry policy and disease control, were “an important signal that the US and China not only can, but will, work together in Asia.”
No threats and intimidation
Clinton also urged claimant countries not to resort to threats and intimidation, an indirect reference to China.
“We believe the nations of the region should work collaboratively and diplomatically to resolve disputes without coercion, without intimidation, without threats, and without use of force,” Clinton said.
“Issues such as freedom of navigation and lawful
exploitation of maritime resources often involve a wide region and approaching them strictly bilaterally could be a recipe for confusion and even confrontation,” Clinton added.
The US said stability is its concern in the waterway, which carries $5 trillion in ship-borne trade, accounting for half the world’s shipping tonnage.
“The United States is going to be very clear in our determination to see progress on the code of conduct between those negotiations that are taking place between China and ASEAN,” a senior US State Department official told reporters earlier this week.
Clearly outline position
Clinton likewise urged ASEAN nations “to clearly outline its position on the Scarborough Shoal” and “to complete a regional code of conduct in a timely fashion.”
She warned about serious problems to the regional bloc if ASEAN fails to address the challenge.
“What might be a challenge today for some of ASEAN’s members, if left unaddressed by all of ASEAN, could lead tomorrow to issues that may become problems for other ASEAN members,” she said.
Clinton said the US “looks to ASEAN and claimant states to provide leadership in this issue and recognizes the important role of the ASEAN chairman to find consensus and advance a common ASEAN position.”
“ASEAN needs to meet its own goals and standards and be able to speak with one voice on issues facing the region,” Clinton said.
ASEAN’s 10 members announced earlier this week that they have drafted a set of rules governing maritime rights and navigation, and procedures for when governments disagree. But China is not a member of the group and hasn’t agreed to anything.
The ASEAN countries are presenting their proposal to China at this week’s conference in Cambodia’s capital, though Beijing will probably want to water down any language that ties its hands.
For the US, the difficult diplomacy ahead could be a major test of the Obama administration’s efforts to “pivot” American power toward the world’s most populous continent. Just speaking out on the subject already has helped the US deepen ties with Vietnam, and relations are warming with other governments in the region.
But countless meetings between American and Chinese officials have not led to progress on a lasting solution.
Various longstanding disputes among China, the Philippines, Vietnam, Taiwan, Malaysia and Brunei involve the area’s busy sea-lanes and many observers fear the complicated web of disputes could spark a violent conflict.
The standoff between China and the Philippines in Panatag (Scarborough) Shoal began in April when the Philippines accused Chinese fishermen of poaching in its exclusive economic zone, including the shoal. During the tensions, both sides sent government ships to the area though both have since withdrawn vessels.
Vietnam has protested a recent announcement by the China National Offshore Oil Corp. opening nine oil and gas lots for international bidders in areas overlapping with existing Vietnamese exploration blocks. Vietnam says the lots lie entirely within its 200-nautical mile exclusive economic zone and continental shelf.
When conditions are ripe
With the ASEAN set to start negotiations with China on a code of conduct, Beijing said it is willing to work with member countries “when the conditions are ripe.”
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Liu Weimin said in a press conference in Beijing Monday that the code of conduct is not for the resolution of disputes in the West Philippine Sea.
“I would like to emphasize that the code of conduct aims not at resolving the South China Sea disputes but boosting mutual trust and cooperation between the parties concerned in a joint bid to maintain peace and stability in the South China Sea,” Liu said.
Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario, for his part, told the ASEAN meeting that “the adherence of all countries in the region to a set of fair and transparent rules, as embodied in the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, will generate greater mutual trust and respect in the region.”
