KUALA LUMPUR – President Aquino will arrive here this afternoon with Manila hopeful of support from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to achieve peace and stability in the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea) as well as economic prosperity and inclusive growth among the people in the region.
Philippine Ambassador to Malaysia Jose Eduardo Malaya III said that with respect to the dramatic developments in the South China Sea, Malaysian Foreign Minister Anifah Aman had called for the early conclusion of the code of conduct in the disputed maritime region.
Aman made the call right after a recent ASEAN ministerial meeting in Kota Kinabalu.
"And that was a statement appreciated by many people," Malaya added.
The Philippines earlier said it would seek a collective statement from ASEAN with regard to China's massive reclamation in the disputed seas.
Malacañang yesterday categorically emphasized that the Philippine government will never allow itself to be bullied by China, especially with regard to increasing its military presence in the West Philippine Sea.
As far as the Aquino administration is concerned, Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. stressed that all claimants to the body of water where half of the world's commerce passes through should not have maritime entitlements like what China has been doing.
Coloma cited the Chinese tactic of shining blinding lights at Philippine aircraft and using water cannons to throw off Filipino fishermen.
"If those incidents are verified, the Department of Foreign Affairs will initiate diplomatic action on it," Coloma warned.
He said that would be on top of the case Manila had filed against Beijing before the International Arbitral Tribunal.
The agenda
Coloma said China's reclamation activities might top ASEAN's agenda.
ASEAN states Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia and Brunei claim parts of the strategic South China Sea, but Beijing claims nearly all of it and has moved aggressively to back that up.
Satellite photos that emerged this month triggered alarm bells by providing fresh evidence of large-scale reclamation works on contested reefs, which suggest that land masses big enough for airstrips and other large facilities are being created.
The photos show a flotilla of Chinese vessels dredging sand onto Panganiban (Mischief) Reef, which is near the Philippines and is claimed by Manila.
The activities there, and more advanced reclamation works elsewhere, raise the specter of a permanent Chinese presence far out at sea from which it can project its growing might.
Coloma said the issue of China's reclamation activities became a stronger factor as compared to the previous ASEAN summit at Nay Pyi Taw in Myanmar in November 2014.
Aquino earlier warned China's actions "should engender fear for the rest of the world," and he will seek a strong statement of concern from ASEAN members here.
ASEAN, however, has a history of failing to reach consensus on any robust response, due to both its members' dependence on China's huge economy for trade and because not all ASEAN states have a stake in the maritime disputes.
Summit hosts Malaysia were caught off-guard in January 2014 when Chinese naval forces conducted exercises near James Shoal, which both countries claim.
During the operation, the sailors swore an oath to defend the sandy bank, according to Chinese media.
A Southeast Asian diplomatic source revealed a final summit statement by member states -- currently in a draft form -- will call for "self-restraint," avoiding threats or use of force, and the peaceful resolution of disputes, but will avoid direct criticism of Beijing.
The statement, which could change, also calls for ASEAN-China discussions on a code of conduct to preserve peace in the South China Sea to be expedited, the source said.
An ASEAN community
ASEAN has pushed China for more than a decade to agree on a code of conduct, but discussions on an agreement only stated in 2013.
Analysts say Beijing is dragging its feet on any rules that could impede its actions at sea, while beefing up its de facto presence in the meantime.
"We want (the talks) to be speeded up and we hope (China) will give us a positive response," Aman said Friday.
The Philippines and Vietnam have been the most outspoken countries in the region in criticizing Chinese actions, and Manila said in February they were in talks to deepen bilateral cooperation, citing their "common concerns" at sea. – With Delon Porcalla and AFP
Read more on The Philippine Star
http://www.information.myanmaronlinecentre.com/pnoy-off-to-kl-for-asean-meet/
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