China yesterday dismissed accusations that it was responsible for the
lack of a joint statement after a meeting between China and the Association of
Southeast Asian Nations.
"China believes that at the
meeting series of the Asean Regional Forum, parties involved exchanged ideas on
East Asian regional cooperation and major regional and international
issues," Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Weimin said at a regular news
briefing.
"China's views and positions
on issues in various fields were well understood and received support from many
countries," he said.
Foreign ministers from China and
member states of Asean have been debating the language of a joint statement
since Monday, in which some Asean members insisted on including content
regarding the South China Sea.
The Philippines and the United
States have called for a unified Asean to use its collective clout to press
China.
However, Beijing insists on
dealing with the countries concerned bilaterally and has criticissed outside
intervention.
The Philippines lambasted the
failure at the end of the talks on Friday, blaming it on China.
It had insisted that the joint
statement must include reference to its armed standoff with China last month
over Huangyan Island in the South China Sea.
However, there is discord within
Asean on this issue.
Hor Namhong, foreign minister of
Cambodia, which holds the rotating Asean presidency, said he could "not
accept that the joint statement has become hostage of the bilateral issue
(between the Philippines and China)".
Thailand's Foreign Minister
Surapong Towichukchaikul said at the East Asia Summit that there might be some
sensitive issues and disputes in the region but the meeting will build up trust
and confidence in the region to handle the situation.
During the summit this week,
Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi warned the Philippines that the use of warships in
relation to Chinese fishermen in China's waters off the Huangyan Island has
sparked a public outcry in China.
Several major industries of the
Philippines, including tourism and fruit planting, were heavily hit after its
territorial dispute with China escalated in April.
Beijing expects Manila to stop
stirring up trouble, Yang said.
Zhang Jie, an expert on
Asia-Pacific studies with the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, said despite
the disputes at the Asean meetings this week, "the atmosphere has been
easier than in 2010 and 2011", when the issue was also brought up.
"The US and Asean have
adopted a much more friendly attitude toward China compared with the two
previous meetings," Zhang said.
The US is a dialogue partner of
the Asean as well as a member of the EAS and Asean Regional Forum.
Yang discussed the South China
Sea issue, among others, with US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on the sidelines
of the Asean meetings in Phnom Penh.
Clinton said that the US was
committed to developing a positive, cooperative and comprehensive relationship
with China.
Collectively, Asean has never
taken sides on the South China Sea issue since the forum was set up in 1994,
Zhang noted.
Liu said on Friday that amid the
global economic turmoil, nations in the Asia-Pacific region should stand closer
and join hands to explore growth opportunities within the region.
AFP and ANN contributed to this
story.
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