July 21, 2012
RECORDER REPORT
Southeast Asian nations on Friday vowed to work towards a "code of
conduct" in the disputed South China Sea, but failed to fully mend a
rift that marred a regional meeting last week. Current chair Cambodia
announced that the Association of Southeast Asian Nations had agreed on
six principles on the sea, where tensions have flared recently with
Vietnam and the Philippines accusing Beijing of increasingly aggressive
behaviour.
The statement - which also includes a commitment to respect
international laws and the non-use of force to settle disputes - is an
attempt to dispel perceptions that the 10-nation bloc is divided. The
Philippines said it was "pleased" with the outcome. Divisions over the
territorial disputes with Beijing prevented Asean from issuing its
customary joint statement at the conclusion of a meeting in Phnom Penh
on July 13, an unprecedented occurrence in the bloc's 45-year history.
But signs of discord remained as Cambodian Foreign Minister Hor
Namhong told reporters Friday that the points were broadly similar to
what was rejected by Vietnam and the Philippines last week, and blamed
them for the earlier impasse. "Why did two Asean countries absolutely
oppose (it) and now they agree with it?" said Hor Namhong.
Diplomats had said a key sticking point previously was a refusal
by Cambodia, a close China ally, to mention bilateral disputes in the
sea, pitting it against Manila, which wanted a reference to a
months-long stand-off with Beijing over the Scarborough Shoal.
China claims sovereignty over nearly all of the resource-rich
sea, which is home to vital shipping lanes, but Asean members the
Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia and Brunei have overlapping claims in the
area. The six-point agreement, which does not give details about
specific incidents, follows intense diplomatic efforts by Indonesian
Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa, who visited Hanoi and Manila on
Wednesday followed by Phnom Penh. Hor Namhong said the envoy had chosen
Vietnam and the Philippines "because these two countries caused the
problem that led to the failure of issuing a joint communique".
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