Beijing is poised to take “de facto control” of the South China Sea, the Philippines said yesterday, but its call for a robust regional response at a summit was shot down.
Alongside Taiwan, ASEAN members Vietnam, Philippines, Malaysia and Brunei claim parts of the body of water, but Beijing claims almost all of it; its territorial assertions have caused concern in the region and beyond.
“[China] is poised to consolidate de facto control of the South China Sea,” Philippine Secretary of Foreign Affairs Albert del Rosario said in Kuala Lumpur a day ahead of an annual ASEAN summit.
Photo: AFP
He cited land reclamation on disputed reefs that has raised the specter of Chinese bases from which it can enforce its claims.
“Is it not time for ASEAN to say to our northern neighbor that what it is doing is wrong and that the massive reclamations must be immediately stopped?” del Rosario asked his fellow ministers. “Is it not time for ASEAN to finally stand up for what is right?”
However, summit host Malaysia rejected the idea of a response that could antagonize China.
“We must avoid any action that would be counterproductive and bring us further apart, either among ourselves, or with China,” Malaysian Minister of Foreign Affairs Anifah Aman said.
“I do not think ASEAN would like to be given an ultimatum, and by the same token I do not think China would like to be given an ultimatum,” he said.
Faced with Beijing’s immense trade and diplomatic leverage, ASEAN has a history of failing to agree on strong responses over the issue on behalf of its members with disputed maritime claims.
Concern over Chinese land reclamation was reignited this month by satellite photos showing huge amounts of sand being dredged and dumped onto fragile coral reefs claimed by the Philippines.
Defense analysts say these works are creating land masses big enough for airstrips and other facilities, raising the specter of deepening Chinese domination of a vital conduit for much of world trade.
A draft statement prepared well before the gathering began called for “self-restraint” at sea, but avoided direct criticism of China, a diplomatic source said previously.
“ASEAN member-states want to see that this matter should be settled amicably,” Anifah said, adding that he suggested China someday allow joint use of the islands it is constructing.
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