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ASEAN unity urged for South China Sea progress
Hopes are not high that the talks in Vientiane will result in significant progress on the South China Sea issue, such as a code of conduct (COC) for nations operating in the body of water, but analysts warn that ASEAN must at least refrain from backpedaling on its existing position.
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Chinese coast guard ships (left and right) corral a Philippine civilian boat chartered by the Philippine navy to deliver supplies to the grounded Philippine navy ship BRP Sierra Madre in disputed waters of the South China Sea on Aug. 22, 2023. Manila's resupply missions to the site will remain purely Philippine operations, the National Security Council said on July 21, 2024, after Washington vowed to “do what is necessary“ to support them. (AFP/Ted Aljibe)
P
ressure is mounting on Southeast Asia’s top diplomats to ensure regional unity at this week’s ASEAN talks in Laos, as analysts say ongoing disputes over rights to the South China Sea require a clear regional approach even as claimants increasingly opt to resolve issues in the troubled waters bilaterally.
Hopes are not high that the talks in Vientiane will result in significant progress on the South China Sea issue, such as a code of conduct (COC) for nations operating in the body of water, but analysts warn that ASEAN must at least refrain from backpedaling on its existing position.
Tensions resulting from China’s sweeping claims to the South China Sea have worsened in recent years amid its rapid rise both regionally and internationally. The strategic sea quickly became a prominent theater of competition between Beijing and Washington.
Diplomatic frictions have also arisen between China and other claimants to the resource-rich sea, including ASEAN members such as Malaysia and the Philippines. The latter joined hands with the United States and experienced a surge of clashes with Chinese vessels in the waters.
The 57th ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting (AMM), in which the matter is slated for discussion at length, will come days after Beijing and Manila reached a provisional agreement for rotation and resupply missions to the BRP Sierra Madre, a Philippine naval ship intentionally grounded on Second Thomas Shoal. The two claimants agreed that there was a need to de-escalate the situation through dialogue and consultation.
To ensure that de-escalation, the Philippine Foreign Ministry reportedly affirmed that both Manila and Beijing would “not prejudice each other’s positions in the South China Sea”.
Read also: Top China, US diplomats to meet at ASEAN foreign minister talks
