No Asean communique but there were ‘agreements’ – Philippines

a failure to once again issue a communique, foreign ministers of Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) reached some

agreements on the West Philippine Sea issue during the recent controversial meeting in Kunming, China. | RH News

The Philippines’ Department of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Charles Jose disclosed that Asean expressed “serious concerns” over recent tensions on the ground that has been raising worry in the international community.

“[Asean foreign ministers] expressed their serious concerns over recent and ongoing developments, which have eroded trust and confidence, increased tensions and which may have the potential to undermine peace, security and stability in the South China Sea,” read part of the Philippines’ individual statement.

It essentially echoed the strongly-worded statement supposedly by the Asean, released by the Malaysian foreign ministry.

The statement, both issued by the Philippines and Malaysia, did not name China directly but emphasized the importance of non-militarization and self-restraint in the conduct of all activities, including land reclamation, which may raise tensions in the region.

China has been building artificial islands and increasing military presence in the West Philippine Sea. It claims almost the entire waters, which has rich fishing grounds and oil and gas deposits.

Malaysia recalled the supposed Asean statement, saying there are “urgent amendments” needed to be made but no updated statement has been issued as of this writing.

Jose clarified that Malaysia’s statement was not a joint declaration of Asean. Thus, there was no retraction of Asean communique.

“They [Asean foreign ministers] agreed on something but it was not officially released,” Jose said. “Since there was no Asean statement, some countries felt that they should issue an individual national statement.”

China’s Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Lu Kang explained in a separate press conference in Beijing that the meeting was a closed-door and there was no plan to issue a joint declaration at the very beginning.

“After officially checking with the Asean side, we found out that the so-called joint statement in [an AFP] report is not an official document produced by Asean, and can in no way represent the unbiased position held by Asean,” he said.

“You may have noticed that the relevant country has announced to retract the so-called statement. You may also know clearly that consensus of all Asean countries is required before Asean issues any official document,” he added.

The Chinese official also denied allegations that China pressured some countries on the issue.
“I want to remind you that all countries including Asean countries are independent and make political choices independently in light of their own political judgment. Not all countries in the world are pressured by others to do everything,” he said.

Meanwhile, Lauro Baja, former Foreign Affairs undersecretary for policy and Philippine Permanent Representative to the United Nations, said the recent hullabaloo among neighboring countries “mirrors a confused, and divided, Asean. Again.”

“It shows once again that China is the red elephant in the negotiating rooms of Asean,” he said. “The Philippines should revisit its reliance on Asean as a major avenue for supports of its position insofar as the West Philippine Sea is concerned.”

It was second time the Asean-China meeting failed to issue a concluding joint declaration following a summit in Cambodia in 2012.

The crucial meeting in Kunming was held ahead of the upcoming ruling of the international arbitral tribunal on the case filed by the Philippines against China’s excessive claims in the West Philippine Sea.

Four members of Asean – the the Philippines, Malaysia, Vietnam and Brunei – have overlapping claims over the region, through which trillions of dollars in ship-borne trade passes every year.