China, Russia rap US meddling in S. China Sea

From the Daily Tribune (Apr 30): China, Russia rap US meddling in S. China Sea

China and Russia yesterday denounced the United States’ interference in the South China Sea as they seek to counter the influence of Washington and its allies, particularly in Asia.

Washington has been lobbying hard to convince countries to state that the court’s ruling, expected in late May or early June, must be binding.

The Philippines has taken a case against China to the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague which many expect to go against China.

US Deputy Secretary of State Antony Blinken told a House of Representatives hearing China “can’t have it both ways,” by being a party to the convention but rejecting its provisions, including “the binding nature of any arbitration decision.”

“China has a decision to make,” he said. “‘If it ignores the decision ... it risks doing terrible damage to its reputation, further alienating countries in the region and pushing them even closer to the United States.”

“We are looking to Asean, as it did most recently at that summit, to express its support for these basic principles and we would like to see that happen when the arbitration decision is issued as well,” Blinken said.

China has urged Southeast Asian nations to resolve territorial disputes through dialogue and repeated a warning of “negative consequences” if the Philippines wins an arbitration case in The Hague.

Any sort of arbitration goes against the Declaration on the Conduct (DoC) of Parties in the South China Sea signed between 10 nations from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) and China in 2002, said Chinese vice foreign minister Liu Zhenmin.

“The arbitration is not by an international court, it’s arbitration brought unilaterally by the Philippine government against China but China took the decision not to participate in proceedings.”

Beijing has refused to take part in any of the Hague proceedings, which it calls illegal, and has said it will not recognize the ruling.

It maintains that the dispute should be resolved between individual claimant countries instead of through the Asean body, and has claimed in the past week that Brunei, Cambodia and Laos back its stance.

The DoC, which was signed between China and Asean in 2002, states that signatories are to resolve disputes through dialogues and diplomatic means.

Calling the DoC the common basis for China and Asean to uphold peace and stability, Liu said it is necessary for peace and maritime cooperation in the region.

“Deviation from the DoC will lead to negative consequences,” he said.

This year the Southeast Asian bloc marks its 25th year of diplomatic relations with China. AFP
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi maintained that it was up to those countries directly involved to find a peaceful resolution through negotiations.

“International society, particularly countries from outside the South China Sea, should play a constructive function in maintaining peace and stability and not contribute to the situation becoming more chaotic,” Wang said.

Wang’s Russian counterpart, Sergei Lavrov, for his part, outside parties should not interfere, a reference to the United States, which has challenged Beijing’s claims.

While the US stressed it takes no position on South China Sea sovereignty claims, it has worked to shore up the military capabilities of the Philippines, a treaty ally.   

http://www.tribune.net.ph/headlines/china-russia-rap-us-meddling-in-s-china-sea