PHNO-HL: U.S. WARNS OF MORE CLASHES ON SOUTH CHINA SEA ROW

U.S. WARNS OF MORE CLASHES ON SOUTH CHINA SEA
ROW

[PHOTO - Hillary
Clinton file photo by Harald Dettenborn, 47th Munich
Security Conference 2011. South East Asia map background by
Juan Paolo Magtira for Manila Standard Today. Clinton twits China for
insisting on bilateral talks. "Asian countries should work collaboratively and
diplomatically to resolve disputes without coercion, without intimidation,
without threats and without the use of force."
MANILA, JULY
16, 2012 (STANDARD) By Associated Press - The
United States on Thursday warned of more confrontations in the South China Sea
if a region-wide solution was not found as Beijing continued to rebuff calls to
cooperate with Association of South East Asian Nations on an acceptable and
legally-binding code for operating in disputed waters in the South China Sea.


US Secretary Hillary Clinton, speaking before the Asean foreign
ministers in the US-Asean grouping she co-led with Philippine Foreign Affairs
Secretary Albert del Rosario, said "Asian countries should work collaboratively
and diplomatically to resolve disputes without coercion, without intimidation,
without threats and without the use of force."
The whole region must be involved in resolving conflicts in the South China
Sea since "approaching them bilaterally could be a recipe for confusion and even
confrontation," Clinton said.
An emerging focal point in the now shaky US-China relations was China's
latest conflict with Japan, a staunch US ally, over a string of remote islands
claimed by both Tokyo and Beijing.
The sudden flare-up of new tensions was sparked by Chinese patrol boats
approaching the islands, which the Chinese claim as theirs. Japan's foreign
ministry has summoned the Chinese ambassador to lodge a protest after it found
out about the patrols.
The conflict threatens to overshadow the issue on the South China Sea in the
ongoing 45th Asean foreign ministers' meeting in Cambodia, where the
participants are trying to come out with an acceptable code of conduct that they
intend to discuss with China.
Beijing has said it will start talks on a legally binding code of conduct in
the South China Sea "when the conditions are ripe," but insists it will try to
resolve the issue through bilateral talks with concerned nations.
Clinton has tried to ease the tension by downplaying the US' role in the
region, saying that it does not take sides in the conflict.
Clinton met with Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi on the sidelines of the
foreign ministers' meeting. The one-on-one meeting tiptoed around the
contentious issue and instead focused on "building an even closer US-China
relationship," according to an AP report.
Clinton urged the Asean ministers to "clearly outline their position in the
Scarborough Shoal" before it affects everyone and not just those currently
involved."
She was referring to the standoff at the Shoal between Manila and Beijing
which started in April, and the statement is seen by analysts as the US' way of
calming Manila's nerves but could further provoke Beijing to take an even harder
stance.
Meanwhile, Senator Miriam Santiago warned that engaging China in an arms race
would be futile because the Philippines could not outfight China. With Bloomberg, Sara Susanne Fabunan and Macon
Ramos-Araneta


Chief News Editor: Sol Jose Vanzi
© Copyright, 2012 by PHILIPPINE HEADLINE NEWS ONLINE
All
rights reserved




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