"ASEAN retracts South China Sea criticism: Malaysia - AFP 14 June 2016
KUALA LUMPUR: Southeast Asian countries have reversed course on a statement that expressed deep concern over events in the South China Sea, where Beijing is embroiled in territorial rows, Malaysia said on Tuesday (Jun 14), adding that "urgent amendments" would be made.
In a strongly-worded statement released to AFP by the Malaysian foreign ministry, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) had earlier warned that recent actions in the disputed waterway - where Beijing has been building militarised artificial islands - had "the potential to undermine peace".
The statement came after what was characterised as "a candid exchange" - language that hinted at a diplomatic set-to - between the bloc's foreign ministers and their Chinese counterpart in the Chinese city of Kunming.
But just hours later, Malaysia said the ASEAN secretariat had issued a recall. "We have to retract the media statement by the ASEAN foreign ministers ... as there are urgent amendments to be made," a Malaysian foreign ministry spokeswoman said.
She said the Secretariat had approved the release of the statement, then later informed the ministry it was being rescinded.
The Chinese foreign ministry expressed puzzlement over the diplomatic dance, and denied any official document had been issued.
"We have checked with the ASEAN side, and the so-called statement reported by AFP is not an official ASEAN document," spokesman Lu Kang said.
China claims nearly all of the South China Sea - a vast tract of water through which a huge chunk of global shipping passes. It has bolstered its claim by building artificial islands including airstrips in the area, some of which are suitable for military use.
The Philippines, Taiwan, Brunei, Malaysia and Vietnam have competing claims to parts of the sea, which is believed to harbour significant oil and gas deposits."
A dance! What a way to describe the 'caught-in-the-middle' trauma of Asean in the South Sea with a powerful emerging neighbour named China!
That Malaysia is the one championing it is perhaps not surprising given its leader is mired in scandals and need funds to fight for his 'integrity'!
Lessons are:
1. money talks. This is so when one views economic growth as the end all and be all measure of success!;
2. Asean is a forum pieced together by the Asean members, each at different economic development stage, each has favours to ask of PRC, the Big, or new Big brother in the region. Hence, this inconsistency between the Asean members. A communique that is not representing Asean as a whole. A trait shares by many useless and unproductive regional grouping! A necessity but with conflicting self-interest!;
3. will PRC abides by the international arbitration tribunal? No. For the die-hard PRC fans, it has every right to claim the territories as drawn in many thousands years ago. Anyone who wants to claim those territories as their will simply not yield to the international rules. That is why PRC is losing credibility and trust in Asean. Only PRC can change the perception. Hopefully they will as opening up those territories and spread the love and share the alleged rich resources in those areas!!
KUALA LUMPUR: Southeast Asian countries have reversed course on a statement that expressed deep concern over events in the South China Sea, where Beijing is embroiled in territorial rows, Malaysia said on Tuesday (Jun 14), adding that "urgent amendments" would be made.
In a strongly-worded statement released to AFP by the Malaysian foreign ministry, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) had earlier warned that recent actions in the disputed waterway - where Beijing has been building militarised artificial islands - had "the potential to undermine peace".
The statement came after what was characterised as "a candid exchange" - language that hinted at a diplomatic set-to - between the bloc's foreign ministers and their Chinese counterpart in the Chinese city of Kunming.
But just hours later, Malaysia said the ASEAN secretariat had issued a recall. "We have to retract the media statement by the ASEAN foreign ministers ... as there are urgent amendments to be made," a Malaysian foreign ministry spokeswoman said.
She said the Secretariat had approved the release of the statement, then later informed the ministry it was being rescinded.
The Chinese foreign ministry expressed puzzlement over the diplomatic dance, and denied any official document had been issued.
"We have checked with the ASEAN side, and the so-called statement reported by AFP is not an official ASEAN document," spokesman Lu Kang said.
China claims nearly all of the South China Sea - a vast tract of water through which a huge chunk of global shipping passes. It has bolstered its claim by building artificial islands including airstrips in the area, some of which are suitable for military use.
The Philippines, Taiwan, Brunei, Malaysia and Vietnam have competing claims to parts of the sea, which is believed to harbour significant oil and gas deposits."
A dance! What a way to describe the 'caught-in-the-middle' trauma of Asean in the South Sea with a powerful emerging neighbour named China!
That Malaysia is the one championing it is perhaps not surprising given its leader is mired in scandals and need funds to fight for his 'integrity'!
Lessons are:
1. money talks. This is so when one views economic growth as the end all and be all measure of success!;
2. Asean is a forum pieced together by the Asean members, each at different economic development stage, each has favours to ask of PRC, the Big, or new Big brother in the region. Hence, this inconsistency between the Asean members. A communique that is not representing Asean as a whole. A trait shares by many useless and unproductive regional grouping! A necessity but with conflicting self-interest!;
3. will PRC abides by the international arbitration tribunal? No. For the die-hard PRC fans, it has every right to claim the territories as drawn in many thousands years ago. Anyone who wants to claim those territories as their will simply not yield to the international rules. That is why PRC is losing credibility and trust in Asean. Only PRC can change the perception. Hopefully they will as opening up those territories and spread the love and share the alleged rich resources in those areas!!
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