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Ready for code of conduct to manage row over South China Sea, says Wen
On the back foot after most ASEAN countries pressed for a discussion on the South China Sea disputes at East Asia Summit, China has said it is willing to work out a code of conduct with them pending settlement of the row.
Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao who earlier warned other countries not to meddle in its disputes with ASEAN countries told the summit in Bali on Saturday that China is willing to work together with Southeast Asian nations for a code of conduct.
The topic has been a thorny issue, with China laying claim to all of the resource-rich South China Sea, while several Southeast Asian nations claim parts of it.
The summit was attended by leaders of the 10 members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and their eight partners, including China, India and the United States.
The summit “is not the appropriate place to talk about the South China Sea issue.
But since the leaders of some countries have singled us out, it is impolite not to reciprocate,” Wen said, in an apparent reference to Washington’s call with the Philippines and Vietnam to discuss the dispute at a summit originally designed for regional development discussions.
This is the first time the US is attending the meeting.
China and ASEAN countries signed the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea, testify to the fact that the freedom of navigation in the area “has not been affected whatsoever” by existing disputes, Wen said.
Beijing has been making efforts to protect marine security in the waters, official media here quoted him as saying.
The East Asian countries are capable of solving the dispute by themselves and the summit should stick to its nature of a strategic forum and “cannot deviate” from its themes of solidarity, development and cooperation, he said.
Terming Wen’s speech aimed at conveying tough message, Wu Shicun, president of the National Institute for South China Sea Studies said “Premier’s speech showcased China’s consistent stance, serves as a warning to big powers outside this region, and sends that message to the international community.”
