11 September 2015

Editorial: Explaining China's New 'Commitments' on the South China Sea

By Xue Li and Liu Mingyi

At the August ASEAN meetings, China unveiled its “five commitments” on the South China Sea. What changed?

The 48th ASEAN Ministerial Meetings and related meetings were held from August 4-6, 2015. However, Wang Yi, China’s foreign minister, made the biggest impression on August 3, just before the meetings proper. He called a press conference to announce that China would keep five commitments on the South China Sea issue. These commitments are as follows: (1) maintaining peace and stability in the South China Sea, (2) peacefully solving disputes through negotiation and consultation, (3) controlling differences through rules and regulations, (4) maintaining freedom of navigation and overflight in the area, (5) gaining mutual benefits through cooperation.

What do these five commitments mean for the South China Sea issue?

Read the full story at The Diplomat