KUALA LUMPUR: ASEAN foreign ministers have emphasised the importance of non-militarisation and self-restraint in conducting all activities, including land reclamation, which may raise tension in South China Sea.
They also highlighted the need to intensify efforts to achieve further progress in the implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea in its entirety and the early adoption of an effective Code of Conduct.
These points were contained in a statement issued by the ministers following the Special ASEAN-China Foreign Ministers’ meeting in Kunming, China yesterday.
“On the South China Sea, we had a candid exchange with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in view of the recent developments on the ground,” the ASEAN ministers said.
They took the opportunity to express their serious concern over recent and ongoing developments, which had eroded trust and confidence, increased tension and which may have the potential to undermine peace, security and stability in the South China Sea.
“We stressed the importance of maintaining peace, security, stability, safety and freedom of navigation in and overflight above the South China Sea,” the ministers said.
This, they said, was in accordance with universally recognised principles of international law including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
“We emphasised the need to enhance mutual trust and confidence, exercise self-restraint in the conduct of activities that would further complicate the situation or escalate tension, and pursue peaceful resolution of disputes in accordance with international law,” they said.
They articulated ASEAN’s commitment to maintaining and promoting peace, security and stability in the region, as well as to the peaceful resolution of disputes, including full respect for legal and diplomatic processes, without resorting to the threat or use of force.
“We underscored the importance of the full and effective implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea in its entirety,” they said.
While noting the momentum and new phase of consultations, they urged the early adoption of an effective Code of Conduct, including through increasing the frequency of ASEAN-China Senior Officials’ Meeting and Joint Working Group Meetings on the Implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea.
The foreign ministers reiterated the importance of establishing the MFA (Ministry of Foreign Affairs)-to-MFA hotline to manage maritime emergencies in the South China Sea.
They also considered the proposal for a Code of Unplanned Encounters at Sea (CUES) for naval vessels in the South China Sea.
“Both are seen as deliverables for the ASEAN-China Commemorative Summit. In our view, these are practical measures that could reduce tension, and the risks of accidents, misunderstandings and miscalculation,” the foreign ministers said.
“Pursuant to the full and effective implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea in its entirety, and pending the early adoption of an effective Code of Conduct, we stressed the importance of undertaking confidence building and preventive measures that would enhance, among others, trust and confidence amongst parties,” they said.--BERNAMA