The Wall Street Journal
By PATRICK BARTA
PHNOM PENH, Cambodia [July 12, 2012]—U.S. Secretary of State Hillary
Clinton rejected Chinese calls to defer talks over territorial disputes
in the South China Sea, pushing instead for region-wide negotiations to
settle claims.
Speaking at a regional security forum in the Cambodian capital on
Thursday, she said questions over conduct in disputed areas in the sea
should be addressed in "multilateral settings" such as events sponsored
by the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations, which is
holding meetings on the topic on Thursday.
"Issues such as freedom of navigation
and lawful exploitation of maritime resources often involve a wide
region, and approaching them strictly bilaterally could be a recipe for
confusion and even confrontation," she said.
Her statement came just a day after China warned participants against
raising the issue at Thursday's meetings, saying it was "crucial"
nations leave the topic off of the agenda. Chinese authorities have long
said the issue should be dealt with on a bilateral basis, but
critics—especially diplomats in Southeast Asian nations such as the
Philippines—say that approach reduces the leverage of other countries
that have claims in the sea.
The resource-rich South China Sea—which carries about half of the
world's total trade—is claimed in whole or part by China, the
Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Taiwan and Brunei. Frictions have
intensified recently after a series of standoffs and disputes,
especially in areas claimed by Vietnam and the Philippines.
"The strength of a multilateral approach is that it brings all the
players in the same room and lets them work together on the principles
and mechanisms that can lead to progress," Ms. Clinton said. "Smaller
countries can be sure their voices are heard. And larger countries,
which have a significant stake in broader regional stability and
security, can pursue effective solutions to complicated challenges."
Write to Patrick Barta at patrick.barta@wsj.com
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