Officials disclosed that China has offered a three-billion-yuan ($474 million) maritime cooperation fund with the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), some of whose members have territorial disputes with Beijing.
Vietnamese Deputy Foreign Minister Pham Quang Vinh said China announced the fund yesterday at the inaugural maritime forum of ASEAN and eight of its partners, including Japan, China, South Korea and the United States.
Pham said ASEAN and China are discussing possible activities to finance. ASEAN and China cooperate in maritime issues including navigation safety, biodiversity and search and rescue.
Tensions have flared over claims by China, the Philippines and Vietnam to South China Sea islands and waters believed to be rich in gas and oil. ASEAN members Brunei and Malaysia also have been embroiled in South China Sea rifts.
Territorial disputes were among the issues raised during the First Expanded ASEAN Maritime Forum (EAMF) and participating delegates agreed that measures are needed to contain the problem.
Officials of Vietnam and the United States said yesterday that “rules of the road” are needed to discuss various problems including territorial disputes that were highlighted during the meeting of the 18 countries, including 10 ASEAN member states.
The 3rd ASEAN Maritime Forum (AMF) that was chaired by Foreign Affairs Undersecretary for Policy Erlinda Basilio was held in Manila last Oct. 3 to 4.
Pham said the participants agreed that the territorial disputes should be resolved through international law, the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), and other documents that have been adopted by the parties concerned including the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC).
“Among the challenges we are discussing also is the presence of territorial disputes and we discussed in a way how to contain it and how to ensure an environment of peace, stability and maritime security so that we can enhance cooperative activities,” Pham told reporters.
He said the delegates discussed them in general and underlined the importance of UNCLOS and international law.
Also tackled were issues on enhancing the areas of cooperation in the field of maritime and questions related to UNCLOS, the important document related to maritime cooperation and as a framework for order at sea, areas for possible cooperation within the framework of the expanded ASEAN maritime forum and maritime environmental protection.
“We actually identified that there is the challenge of territorial dispute. Everyone acknowledged the presence of territorial disputes, including all parties that have spoken this morning and we expect the need for ensuring the environment of peace, stability and maritime security including the parties need to abide by international law and UNCLOS so as not to allow the territorial disputes to become complex,” Pham added.
US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Joseph Yun said the US did not give its view on territorial disputes during the meeting hosted by the Philippines, but he pointed to the need for rules and framework.
“I don’t think we gave any view on territorial disputes. I’m not sure how we touched. There was not much discussion on territorial disputes but we need rules of the road, the framework on how we discuss various problems including territorial disputes, on fishing and natural resources exploitation,” Yun said.
“I think there is a degree of feeling that this is not the forum where we discuss issues in depth and so it is not everyday you go about discussing everything. This is why I characterize this is foremost about cooperation and collaboration,” he said.
The ASEAN member-states discussed various cross-cutting maritime issues in ASEAN, as well as ways of enhancing cross-sectoral maritime cooperation, in line with the activities listed in the ASEAN Political Security Community blueprint. They also discussed recommendations made in previous meetings of the ASEAN Maritime Forum.
Experts from different sectors dealing with cross-cutting maritime issues were invited to provide information and share their views on these issues.
The ASEAN member-states discussed and exchanged views on maritime security and cooperation in ASEAN; maintaining freedom and safety of navigation and addressing sea piracy; protecting the marine environment and promoting eco-tourism and fishery regime in East Asia; and future work of the ASEAN Maritime Forum.
They agreed that maritime security and cooperation should contribute to the three pillars of ASEAN community building, namely, the ASEAN Political Security Community, the ASEAN Economic Community, and the ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community.
ASEAN made an assessment of the current status of regional maritime security and cooperation and shared country perspectives on the current prospects and challenges concerning maritime cooperation.-The Philippine Star (October 06, 2012)
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