The Philippines calls for urgency from China and ASEAN in the South China Sea Code negotiations

VIENTIANE/BEIJING (Reuters): Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Thursday pressed the leaders of Southeast Asia and China at a regional summit to urgently speed up negotiations on a code of conduct for the South China Sea, while accusing Beijing of intimidation and intimidation.

In Laos, Marcos told leaders of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) and Chinese Premier Li Qiang that substantial progress was necessary and that all sides should be “seriously open to seriously managing the differences” and reducing tension.

China and US ally the Philippines are at loggerheads over a series of clashes near disputed areas in the South China Sea, with Manila accusing China’s coast guard of aggression and Beijing furious over what it calls repeated provocations and territorial incursions .

The fighting has been fierce and has raised regional concerns about an escalation that could ultimately involve the United States, which has a 1951 defense treaty that obligates it to defend the Philippines if it is attacked.

“There should be more urgency in the pace of negotiations on the Code of Conduct between ASEAN and China,” Marcos said at the meeting, according to a statement from his office.

“It is unfortunate that the overall situation in the South China Sea remains tense and unchanged. We continue to be subjected to bullying and intimidation.”

In his remarks on Friday, China’s Li urged countries outside the Southeast Asia region to respect and support China’s peace efforts in the South China Sea and play a constructive role in regional peace and stability. No nations were mentioned.

Without referring to any country or incident, Li said China has always insisted on resolving differences with the countries concerned through dialogue and consultation and actively carrying out practical cooperation at sea, the official Xinhua news agency reported.

Li also said China and ASEAN countries are “striving for (the) early finalization” of the code of conduct.

Based on its old maps, China claims sovereignty over virtually the entire South China Sea and has deployed a coast guard fleet deep into Southeast Asia, including the exclusive economic zones of Malaysia, Brunei, the Philippines and Vietnam.

‘IT’S NOT A STILL’

The idea of ​​a maritime code was first agreed between China and ASEAN in 2002, but the formal process of creating one only began in 2017.

Since then, progress has been painfully slow, with years of debate over the framework and modalities for negotiations and directives issued to try to speed up negotiations. Some ASEAN members are concerned that the code of conduct will not be legally binding.

Asean Secretary-General Kao Kim Hourn said in an interview with Reuters about the process: “It is not static, it is not standing still.”

Marcos expressed frustration that the parties involved could not agree even on simple things, adding that “the definition of a concept as fundamental as ‘self-control’ has not yet reached consensus.”

ASEAN leaders were joined in Laos on Thursday by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Japan’s new Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, ahead of the East’s plenary meeting -Asia Summit on Friday.

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol and Japan’s Ishiba were due to hold their first summit in Laos on Thursday as the neighboring countries seek to deepen security and economic ties.

Yoon has pushed for mending ties with Tokyo and stepping up trilateral security cooperation with Washington a top diplomatic priority, building on progress made by Yoon and Ishiba’s predecessor, Fumio Kishida.

SUPPLY CHAIN ​​RESILIENCE

South Korea and Asean announced in Vientiane that they had established a comprehensive strategic partnership, which Yoon said would develop cooperation in the defense industry and help strengthen Asean’s cybersecurity capabilities.

According to the Singapore government, negotiations have also been completed on an upgrade to an ASEAN-China Free Trade Area, covering customs, supply chain connectivity, competition and consumer protection as well as non-tariff barriers.

ASEAN leaders also committed to improving the resilience, innovation and competitiveness of regional supply chains and accelerating efforts to negotiate and improve free trade agreements.

The summit in Laos also discussed a crisis in Myanmar that began with a military coup in 2021 and has since spiraled into civil war.

The conflict has haunted Asean, with differing opinions among members testing the 10-member bloc’s unity, credibility and ability to respond decisively to issues.

ASEAN leaders on Thursday urged all sides to stop violence and attacks on civilians and supported efforts to find a peaceful solution, including greater cooperation with Myanmar’s neighbors and the United Nations to resolve the crisis and tackle its broader consequences, including narcotics and crime.

Western countries have taken a tougher stance than Asean, imposing sanctions and accusing Myanmar’s generals of committing systematic atrocities. The junta has called this disinformation.

Marcos previously said that Asean’s formal peace process, the “Five Point Consensus”, has not worked so far and that the bloc is now “trying to come up with new strategies”.

“We have to admit… that we have not been very successful in actually improving the situation,” Marcos told reporters, according to his office.

(Reporting by Panu Wongcha-um in Vientiane, Karen Lema in Manila; Liz Lee and Colleen Howe in Beijing and Hyunsu Yim and Jack Kim in Seoul; Writing and additional reporting by Martin Petty; Editing by Michael Perry, William Maclean and Kim Coghill) – Reuters