Minister calls for unity in South China Sea dispute
Print Edition
CHINA’S foreign minister yesterday urged Southeast Asian nations to unite and “say no” to outside forces seeking to interfere in the South China Sea dispute.
Wang Yi was speaking in Manila where he hailed the “strong momentum” in improving ties with the Philippines under President Rodrigo Duterte.
Wang’s visit came a week before he was set to return to Manila for a meeting of foreign ministers from the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations and its partners, which include China and the United States.
Wang said warming relations between China and the Philippines, a long-standing American ally, had helped ensure stability in the South China Sea.
“If there are still some non-regional forces or forces in the region that don’t want to see stability in the South China Sea and they still want to stir up trouble in the South China Sea, we need to stand together and say no to them together,” Wang told reporters.
The United States has repeatedly sent warships close to Chinese islands in the sea in recent years, triggering angry responses from Beijing.
Duterte has loosened his country’s 70-year-old alliance with the US while looking to build stronger relations with China and Russia.
He has downplayed the Philippines’ dispute with China and said better relations with China will generate billions of dollars in investment and aid.
On Monday, Duterte said the Philippines and China were in talks over joint exploration in the South China Sea, which is believed to have vast oil and gas deposits.
He said a partner had been found to develop oilfields and exploration and exploitation would restart this year.
Wang said he supported the idea of joint energy ventures with the Philippines in the South China Sea, warning that unilateral action could damage both sides.
“In waters where there are overlapping maritime rights and interests, if one party goes for unilateral development, and the other party takes the same action, that might complicate the situation at sea,” Wang said.
“That might lead to tension, and as the end result, nobody would be able to develop resources.”
Wang yesterday also pledged 20 million yuan (US$3 million) to help rehabilitate the war-torn southern Philippine city of Marawi, where a military offensive is seeking to flush out pro-Islamic State group militants.
(AFP/Reuters)
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