Foreign ministers of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)’s member nations agreed to foster the implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea or South China Sea (DOC) in a move to ease territorial disputes.
The ASEAN ministerial meeting (AMM-Retreat) took place in the central city of Danang Jan 14 under the chairmanship of Deputy PM Pham Gia Khiem.
The ASEAN will hold references with China in various fields such as economy, trade, politics and particularly the East Sea or South China Sea issue in the future, said Pham Quang Vinh, head of Vietnam’s ASEAN senior official delegation.
The ASEAN and China signed DOC in 2002 as a legal mechanism to restrain regional conflicts, particularly among six countries of Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines, Brunei and China, arising from territorial disputes on the East Sea.
Observers said that while assuming ASEAN presidency this year Vietnam could foster the unity within the bloc to raise negotiating power on the table with China in settling the disputes relating to the East Sea.
Meanwhile, China is pursuing to hold separate talks with each ASEAN member. A Sino-Philippines agreement is an example.
They also asked the task force that is in charge of the ASEAN connectivity to soon finish a protocol on disputes settlements.
They agreed that the bloc needs to expand its cooperation with partners, including China, India, Japan, Russia, South Korea, and the U.S.
Vietnamese Deputy PM-Foreign Minister Pham Gia Khiem informed the participants of possibly organizing an ASEAN defense ministers meeting with partners. Khiem also proposed holding a conference of ASEAN top security officials. (Local sources)
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