ASEAN Foreign Chiefs to Mention “Concerns” over S. China Sea

July 31, 2018

Singapore- Foreign ministers from across the Association of Southeast Asian Nations will mention "concerns" over the situation in the South China Sea, where China is promoting military base development, in their upcoming joint statement, it was learned on Tuesday.

The ASEAN ministers will take note of the "concerns expressed by some countries on the land reclamations in the area," without naming China, according to a draft of the joint statement, planned to be adopted at their meeting in Singapore on Thursday.

The statement will also call for "peaceful resolution of disputes in accordance with international law," as well as "self-restraint in the conduct of all activities...that could further complicate the situation and escalate tensions in the South China Sea."

Over the South China Sea situation, ASEAN had stopped using the word "concerns" in a statement issued at a regional summit that was hosted last November by the Philippines, which is deepening ties with China.

However, after the word was revived in a statement at an ASEAN summit in Singapore in April, the foreign ministers are seen following suit with the leaders' move.

Also in the joint statement, the ASEAN foreign ministers will appreciate progress in substantive negotiations between ASEAN and China to draw up a code of conduct to prevent conflicts in the South China Sea.

Over the situation on the Korean Peninsula, the ministers will "welcome" summits between the two Koreas in April and between the United States and North Korea in June, urging continued efforts toward the denuclearization of the peninsula.

Meanwhile, they will express hopes for "the expeditious commencement of the voluntary return" home of displaced Rohingya people, a Muslim minority in Myanmar. Jiji Press