Beijing on
Wednesday said the 45th Association of Southeast Asian Nations Foreign
Ministers’ Meeting in Cambodia next week was not “the right venue” for the
Philippines to raise the issue of the standoff at the Panatag (Scarborough)
Shoal.
China’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Weimin said the
meeting was an event aimed at enhancing mutual trust among member-countries.
“The Chinese side believes that the [meeting] is an important platform for enhancing mutual
trust and strengthening cooperation, not the right place to discuss the South
China Sea issue,” Liu said in a statement.
He made his statement following the claims by Chinese
newspapers that the Philippines was planning to fuel tensions during the Asean
foreign ministers’ meeting in Cambodia, which will be held on July 6 to 13 at
the Peace Palace in Phnom Penh.
The meeting will be attended by Asean member countries
and their partners Australia, Bangladesh, Canada, China, the European Union,
India, Japan, Mongolia, New Zealand, North and South Korea, Pakistan, Papua New
Guinea, Russia, Sri Lanka, Timor-Leste and the United States.
Liu said the Chinese government had no intention of
discussing the month-long standoff on the shoal, but would exchange views on
China-Asean relations, East Asia cooperation, Asia Pacific security
cooperation, regional and international
concerns, and preparations for the coming East Asian Summit in November.
“We hope achievements can be made in enhancing mutual
trust between countries in this region and maintaining regional peace,
stability and prosperity,” Liu said.
When asked if China was concerned that the Philippines
might instigate talks on the West Philippine Sea issue, Liu said Beijing was
willing to continue to hold dialogues with countries involved in the issue but
in a “peaceful means”.
“The communication channels between China and other
parties are open and effective,” Liu said.
“China is willing to continue to hold dialogues and
consultations with countries involved to solve the South China Sea issue with
peaceful means.”
The standoff between Manila and Beijing started on April
10, when Chinese government vessels prevented the Philippine Coast Guard from
arresting Chinese fishermen who were caught poaching in the shoal, which is 24
nautical miles west of Luzon.
The Chinese government insists that 90 percent of the
islands in the South China Sea (West Philippines Sea) belongs to them, but the
Philippines, Taiwan, Vietnam, Brunei and Malaysia are also claiming them as
their own.
Sara Fabunan
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