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China Calls Southeast Asia for Cooperation on South China Sea

China Calls Southeast Asia for Cooperation on South China Sea
South Cina Sea © The New York Times

China and the countries surrounding the South China Sea should set up a cooperation mechanism to boost exchanges in efforts ranging from disaster relief to safety of navigation, a senior diplomat said in comments reported on Monday.

China claims most of the resource-rich South China Sea, through which about $5 trillion in ship-borne trade passes every year. Neighbors Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan and Vietnam also have claims on the strategic waterway.

While China's construction of artificial islands and military deployments in the area have unnerved its neighbors, Beijing has also been trying to reassure Southeast Asia, with efforts such as talking up a code of conduct for the waterway.

China's Vice Foreign Minister Liu Zhenmin speaks during a news conference in Beijing, July 13, 2016. Image: China Daily/via REUTERS
China's Vice Foreign Minister Liu Zhenmin speaks during a news conference in Beijing, July 13, 2016. Image: China Daily/via REUTERS

 

Speaking at a weekend forum on the southern island province of Hainan, Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Liu Zhenmin said the mechanism would enhance mutual trust and strengthen cooperation, according to a transcript of his speech released on Monday.

It would contribute to exchanges in such areas as disaster prevention, maritime rescue, environmental protection, biodiversity, scientific research and navigational safety, he added.

"The mechanism is aimed at strengthening pragmatic cooperation and increasing mutual trust, and is not about resolving disputes," Liu said.

 


Source : Reuters | Reporting by Ben Blanchard; Editing by Clarence Fernandez

Indah Gilang Pusparani

Indah is a researcher at Badan Perencanaan Pembangunan Penelitian dan Pengembangan Daerah Kota Cirebon (Regional Development Planning and Research Agency of Cirebon Municipality). She covers More international relations, tourism, and startups in Southeast Asia region and beyond. Indah graduated from MSc Development Administration and Planning from University College London, United Kingdom in 2015. She finished bachelor degree from International Relations from University of Indonesia in 2014, with two exchange programs in Political Science at National University of Singapore and New Media in Journalism at Ball State University, USA. She was awarded Diplomacy Award at Harvard World Model United Nations and named as Indonesian Gifted Researcher by Australian National University. She is Researcher at Regional Planning Board in Cirebon, West Java. She previously worked as Editor in Bening Communication, the Commonwealth Parliament Association UK, and diplomacy consulting firm Best Delegate LLC in USA. Less
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