News Story: China, Indonesia to further comprehensive strategic partnership

BEIJING, Aug. 21 (Xinhua) -- China and Indonesia held the sixth meeting of vice-premier-level dialogue on Monday, vowing to improve the two countries' comprehensive strategic partnership.

Chinese State Councilor Yang Jiechi and visiting Indonesian Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs Wiranto co-chaired the meeting in Beijing.

Yang called on both sides to implement the consensus reached by their leaders.

China-Indonesia ties have seen rapid development and the two countries have maintained frequent high-level visits, while expanding cooperation in various fields, Yang said.

As major developing countries, both China and Indonesia shoulder the responsibility of safeguarding national security and boosting economic development, Yang said, noting that China is willing to work with Indonesia to integrate development strategies and enhance pragmatic cooperation.

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News Report: Gritty Talks Ahead as China, ASEAN Agree to Avoid Mishaps in Disputed Sea

Ralph Jennings

MANILA — China and a group of 10 Southeast Asian nations face tough negotiations on a code of conduct for avoiding mishaps in the contested South China Sea despite the endorsement of a framework for talks.

Experts say Beijing will oppose defining the scope of the sea, making the code binding and any enforcement that would limit its maritime activities, whereas the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) will ask for those details as discussions go on. The deal has dragged since 2002, with China resisting for much of the past six years. China and ASEAN foreign ministers approved a framework code in Manila Sunday.

“If and when a code of conduct is finalized, we can rest assured that it will be diluted to a point where it does not damage Chinese interests in the South China Sea,” said Jonathan Spangler, director of the South China Sea Think Tank in Taipei.

Beijing claims more than 90 percent of the 3.5 million-square-kilometer South China Sea, overlapping smaller tracts that Brunei, Malaysia, Vietnam and the Philippines say fall under their own flags. The code of conduct would be aimed at avoiding accidents as the claimant countries fish, explore for oil and gas or develop some of the estimated 500 tiny islets.

News Story: China proposes three-step vision for COC consultation - FM

MANILA, Aug. 6 (Xinhua) -- China has proposed a three-step vision to step up consultations on the Code of Conduct (COC) in the South China Sea, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said here Sunday after he and his counterparts from ASEAN nations approved the framework of the COC.

All sides fully acknowledged the positive momentum that the improving situation in the South China Sea is demonstrating and expressed their approval of the framework of the COC which they believe laid a sound foundation for the substantive consultations, Wang told reporters after the China-ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting.

The ministers spoke highly of the achieved early harvests, including the establishment of hotline communications among senior officials of the ministries of foreign affairs of China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) member states in response to maritime emergencies, he said.

All the afore-mentioned achievements testify to the fact that China and ASEAN have the wisdom and capability to properly manage the disputes, formulate a set of regional rules that we all recognize, and preserve peace and stability in the South China Sea, according to the Chinese foreign minister.

Read the full story at Xinhua

Related Link: ASEAN agrees to China's proposed initiatives to kickstart formal negotiations on COC

News Story: China and ASEAN to maintain stability in South China Sea

BEIJING, Aug. 3 (Xinhua) -- China will work with ASEAN countries to uphold stability in the South China Sea, consult on a code of conduct (COC) and maritime cooperation, and guide the East Asian regional cooperation.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang made the remarks when answering a question on China's expectations for future development of China-ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) relations.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi will attend a series of foreign minister meetings from Aug. 6 to 8 in the Philippines, including meetings between foreign ministers from China, ASEAN, Japan and the Republic of Korea, as well as foreign minister meetings of the East Asia Summit and the ASEAN Regional Forum.

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News Story: ASEAN goes soft on China

By Pia Lee-Brago and Edu Punay

MANILA, Philippines -  The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) is seen to take a softer stand on China’s aggressive moves in disputed waters and to highlight instead the conclusion of negotiations on a framework of the Code of Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (COC).

The latest talks on the COC were held on May 18 in Guiyang, China.

In a draft statement, ASEAN foreign ministers said they tasked the ASEAN-China Senior Officials’ Consultation (ACSOC) mechanism to begin discussions on a substantive and effective COC on the basis of the framework as soon as possible. 

ASEAN and China are set to endorse a framework for a COC that will regulate the future behavior of the parties concerned during the meeting in Manila this week. The framework will be endorsed for eventual crafting of a COC.

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said the framework, completed ahead of the mid-2017 goal set by the leaders of ASEAN and China, contains elements which the parties have agreed to.

But the draft does not call for a legally binding COC, as some ASEAN countries had wanted.

Pending conclusion of a substantive COC, the ministers reaffirmed the importance of maintaining peace, stability, security and freedom of navigation and overflight in and above the South China Sea. 

“In this regard, we underscored the importance of the full and effective implementation of the DOC (Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea) in its entirety,” the draft communiqué said.

“Taking note of concerns expressed by some ministers over recent developments in the area, we reaffirmed the importance of enhancing mutual trust and confidence, exercising self-restraint in the conduct of activities, pursuing mutually agreed practical maritime areas of cooperation, and avoiding unilateral actions in disputed features that may further complicate the situation in keeping with the principle of peaceful resolution of disputes without resorting to the threat or use of force,” the draft statement said.

The draft communiqué did not mention the July 12, 2016 arbitral ruling in favor of the Philippines.

Read the full story at PhilStar

News Story: China Woos ASEAN to Resolve Disputed Sea Without Outsiders

By Noel Tarrazona

The Chinese government has called on Southeast Asian countries to prevent non-Asian countries from intervening in the resolution of territorial disputes in the South China Sea.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi was in Manila last week to discuss the framework for a code of conduct in the South China Sea between and among ASEAN nations. China has claimed ownership of a large part of the South China Sea  despite the Hague’s Arbitration Court having denied its sovereign claim.

Wang announced through an Chinese-English interpreter that “external players do not want to see stability in the region. Thus, we need to stand together and say 'no' to them.”

Telling his country that he is not ready for war with China, Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte announced during his State of the Nation Address (SONA) last week that the Philippines and China will start joint oil and gas exploration in the South China Sea. Many of his advisers believe this is the best option for easing diplomatic tensions between the two Asian neighbors.

Wang welcomed the development for the joint exploration of the South China Sea and said the partnership will involve much consultation so that “we could come up with a common goal or agreement.”

However, Wang also warned that while China is open to the idea of joint exploration, they are against “unilateral development” conducted by other claimant countries in the South China Sea.

Read the full story at MarEx

News Story: China calls for deeper cooperation with ASEAN

Beijing (VNA) – China has called for deeper cooperation with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to achieve mutual development as the bloc is marking its 50th founding anniversary this year.

The call was made by Chinese Ambassador to ASEAN Xu Bu at the seminar “ASEAN at 50: A New Chapter for ASEAN-China Relations” on July 14.

The ambassador said that ASEAN and China should seize the opportunities to elevate the relations to a new height. He said the two sides need to push win-win cooperation in connectivity, production capacity, trade promotion and investment as well as reap benefits from the upgraded protocol of China-ASEAN Free Trade Area.

The two economies should combine their strengths and potential to carry out those efforts, aiming at supporting China’s Belt and Road Initiative and ASEAN Vision 2025 in the future, he added.

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News Story: Xi urges mutual understanding with Singapore on core interests, major concerns

HAMBURG, Germany, July 6 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping said here Thursday that China and Singapore shall grasp the bilateral relations with strategic insight and vision, and keep mutual understanding and support on issues of each other's core interests and major concerns.

Xi made the remarks while meeting with Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong.

Xi noted that the China-Singapore traditional friendship, promoted by mutual learning and cooperation, has reaped rich fruits.

China highly values its relations with Singapore, and is ready to work with the Southeast Asian country to enhance bilateral partnership step by step, said the Chinese leader.

He encouraged the two sides to put new thinking into their cooperation, and tap cooperative potentials under the Belt and Road Initiative on such fronts as infrastructure construction, trade and investment, and financial collaboration.

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News Story: Chinese premier says shared interests outweigh differences with Philippines

BEIJING, June 30 (Xinhua) -- The shared interests of China and the Philippines far outweigh the differences, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang said on Friday.

"The restoration of China-Philippine relations serves the fundamental interests of both countries and regional peace and stability," Li said when meeting with visiting Philippine Foreign Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano.

The Chinese government supports the Philippines' effort to achieve national and economic development and maintain stability, Li said.

Li called on both sides to respect and treat each other as equals, consolidate political trust, deepen cooperation in infrastructure and other key areas and strengthen people-to-people exchanges.

Stressing that the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) is a diplomatic priority for China, the premier said China supports the Philippines to work as rotating chair of the ASEAN this year and hosting of the East Asian Leaders' meetings on cooperation.

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News Story: China to support Philippines on anti-terrorism - FM

BEIJING, June 29 (Xinhua) -- China on Thursday reiterated its support for the Philippines in combatting terrorism, saying that it will give a helping hand without any hesitation.

Foreign Minister Wang Yi made the remarks at a press conference following a meeting with his Philippine counterpart Alan Peter Cayetano in Beijing.

Wang said China has already sent the first shipment of emergency supplies and equipment to the Philippines, and will continue to provide necessary help and support.

"We are willing to work with regional countries, including the Philippines, to cooperate on information exchange, law enforcement, combat against transnational terrorism and other issues, in order to maintain regional peace and stability," he said.

Read the full story at Xinhua

News Story: China vows cooperation with ASEAN to promote peace in South China Sea

BEIJING, June 21 (Xinhua) -- China Wednesday vowed joint efforts with ASEAN countries to ensure the success of the China-ASEAN foreign ministers' meeting in August and promote peace and stability in the South China Sea.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Geng Shuang made the remarks in response to a question regarding recent comments from Philippine Assistant Foreign Secretary for ASEAN Affairs Ma. Hellen De La Vega.

The Philippine diplomat was quoted as saying the set-up of senior diplomat hotline between China and ASEAN countries, and the application of the Code for Unplanned Encounters at Sea (CUES) in the South China Sea, would help improve China-ASEAN relations.

Geng applauded the Philippine diplomat's comments, adding currently the situation in the South China Sea has been stabilized and maintains sound development momentum.

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News Story: China eyes more cooperation with Singapore on Belt and Road construction

BEIJING, June 12 (Xinhua) -- China and Singapore can increase cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative via setting up platforms for connectivity, finance and third-party market, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said Monday.

Wang made the remarks while holding talks with his Singaporean counterpart Vivian Balakrishnan, who paid an official visit to China from Sunday to Monday.

Hailing the sound development of bilateral ties with Singapore since the beginning of this year, Wang said the two countries need to continue to implement the consensus reached by both leaders and promote the "partnership of all-round cooperation in keeping with the times."

China welcomes Singapore's participation in Belt and Road construction and is ready to work with the country to carry out the Belt and Road MOU, Wang said.

Balakrishnan said the Belt and Road Initiative is of historic importance and Singapore has supported it from the very beginning as it connects Asia, Europe and Oceania and brings prosperity to all.

Singapore is an important point along the Belt and Road and could provide support to the financing of the initiative as it is a regional financial hub, Balakrishnan told media at a joint press conference held after the talks.

The connectivity projects conducted by Singapore and China in southwestern China's Chongqing Municipality could also join the land and maritime Silk Roads, he said, adding that Singapore is willing to better align its economic development strategies with China.

Read the full story at Xinhua

News Story: Philippine official - COC agreement expected in November

Hanoi (VNA) – Philippine Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Enrique Manalo said on June 5 that Asian countries will likely agree on a code of conduct for the East [South China] Sea (COC) when regional leaders meet for a summit in November, the online newspaper nikkei.com reported.

Manalo made the statement at a panel on achievements and challenges of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) under the framework of the 23rd International Conference on the Future of Asia in Tokyo, Japan.

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News Story: ASEAN, China talk DOC implementation, draft COC framework

Beijing (VNA) – ASEAN member countries and China have reiterated the commitment reached by their high-ranking leaders to fully and effectively effectuating the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC).

They talked the issue at the 14th ASEAN-China Senior Officials’ Meeting on the Implementation of the DOC in Guiyang city, China’s Guizhou province on May 18. 

The meeting was co-chaired by Permanent Secretary of Singapore’s Foreign Ministry Chee Wee Kiong and Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Liu Zhenmin. 

The officials reviewed the implementation of measures to build trust and boost preventive diplomacy at sea, saying the operation of hotlines between foreign ministries of ASEAN countries and China to manage maritime emergencies, and the application of the Code for Unplanned Encounters at Sea (CUES) in the East Sea have contributed to maintaining peace, stability, maritime and aviation security and safety in the East Sea. 

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News Story: Draft a sign of progress on South China Sea code of conduct

By Christopher Bodeen

BEIJING — A framework agreement between China and the Association of Southeast Asia Nations on a code of conduct in the South China Sea marks a potentially significant step toward cooling tensions in the strategic waterway, analysts said Friday.

While details of the agreement reached Thursday weren't disclosed, it is a definite sign of progress on reaching a final code of conduct that the parties committed to 15 years ago, the experts said.

Until recently, progress has been slow amid disputes over the body of water that China claims virtually in its entirety.

For China, the code of conduct is a means to achieving its goal of keeping the US and its allies from intervening in the matter in the name of freedom of navigation or maintaining regional stability, said Huang Jing, an expert on the region at National University of Singapore's Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy.

"China can say, 'Look we have already reached agreements, are behaving ourselves, so no need for you Americans or others to come in and get in our business,'" Huang said in a telephone interview.

The agreement suits China's goal of managing rather than solving the disputes, with Beijing still certain that it will eventually reach solutions through bilateral talks, Huang said.

Read the full story at PhilStar

News Story: ASEAN, China talk DOC implementation, draft COC framework

Beijing (VNA) – ASEAN member countries and China have reiterated the commitment reached by their high-ranking leaders to fully and effectively effectuating the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East [South China] Sea (DOC).

They talked the issue at the 14th ASEAN-China Senior Officials’ Meeting on the Implementation of the DOC in Guiyang city, China’s Guizhou province on May 18. 

The meeting was co-chaired by Permanent Secretary of Singapore’s Foreign Ministry Chee Wee Kiong and Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Liu Zhenmin. 

The officials reviewed the implementation of measures to build trust and boost preventive diplomacy at sea, saying the operation of hotlines between foreign ministries of ASEAN countries and China to manage maritime emergencies, and the application of the Code for Unplanned Encounters at Sea (CUES) in the East  Sea have contributed to maintaining peace, stability, maritime and aviation security and safety in the East Sea. 

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News Story: China, ASEAN countries agree on COC framework

GUIYANG, May 18 (Xinhua) -- Senior officials from China and ASEAN countries Thursday agreed on a framework for the Code of Conduct (COC) in the South China Sea.

The consensus came during the 14th senior officials' meeting on the implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of the Parties in the South China Sea (DOC).

The meeting, co-chaired by Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Liu Zhenmin and Singapore's Permanent Secretary for Foreign Affairs Chee Wee Kiong, was held ahead of the upcoming China-ASEAN foreign ministers' meeting in July.

The approval of the framework was reached earlier than scheduled, Liu told the press after the meeting, adding that according to the work plan, China and ASEAN countries were expected to finish consultation on the draft framework for the COC by the first half of this year.

The framework, which represents a crucial phased result in the entire COC negotiation process, has laid a solid foundation for further negotiations, Liu stressed.

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News Story: China says Japan-New Zealand meeting on South China Sea inappropriate

BEIJING, May 18 (Xinhua) -- China said Thursday the Japan-New Zealand prime ministers' meeting regarding the South China Sea issue was "inappropriate."

A joint press release by Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and his New Zealand counterpart Bill English, called on parties to settle their territorial disputes in the South China Sea in light of a 2016 ruling by an international arbitral tribunal, according to Japan's Kyoto News.

"With joint efforts by involved parties, including China, the South China Sea situation has stabilized and improved," said Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying.

Japan has used this situation to make trouble, play up non-existent tensions and redirect attention to the so-called arbitral tribunal, while involved parties have already turned a page, Hua told a routine press briefing.

"We have to ask, what does Japan truly care about? Is it concerned about the stability of the South China Sea, or is it afraid of China-Philippines and China-ASEAN relations developing as the situation stabilizes," Hua said.

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News Story: Philippines sends delegates to Asean-China forum

By Christina Mendez

BEIJING – A high level Philippine delegation is here today for the meeting between the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and China on the approval of the framework for a Code of Conduct for managing the dispute in the South China Sea.

Ambassador Jose Santiago “Chito” Sta. Romana noted that China has shown “flexibility” in dealing with the issue, a major policy shift apparently brought about by President Duterte’s initiative to improve relations with Beijing.

“They have shown flexibility. They’ve actually indicated they are willing, they hope that it can be achieved this year, the framework,” said Sta. Romana, a Beijing-based journalist before his appointment as ambassador.

Aside from the Philippines and China, other countries with conflicting claims in the South China Sea are Malaysia, Brunei, Vietnam and Taiwan.

In this year’s ASEAN summit, hosted by the Philippines, leaders of the 10-nation bloc agreed to keep communication lines among claimant countries in the South China Sea open to prevent an escalation of hostilities.

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News Story: ASEAN, China officials to convene meeting on DOC

Hanoi (VNA) – The 14th Senior Officials’ Meeting on the implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East [South China] Sea (DOC) will take place in Guiyang city, the Chinese southwestern province of Guizhou on May 18.

Chinese Foreign Ministry’s spokesperson Hua Chunying said Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Liu Zhenmin and senior diplomatic officials from the ASEAN countries will attend the meeting. Earlier, the 21st meeting of the Joint Working Group on the implementation of the DOC will be held. 

China and the ASEAN countries will continue with their discussion on implementing the DOC, pushing forward maritime cooperation and issues related to the negotiations on the Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC), said Hua.

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