China and the US are budging not a bit over Beijing’s assertive development in disputed parts of the South China Sea, with Chinese officials politely but pointedly dismissing Washington’s push for US-proposed ways to ease tensions.
As US Secretary of State John Kerry yesterday wrapped up a visit to China, both sides stressed the importance of dialogue to resolve competing claims in the waterway. However, neither showed any sign of giving ground over Chinese land reclamation projects that have alarmed the US and China’s smaller neighbors.
Kerry yesterday met with Chinese President Xi Jinping (習近平), who is to make an official visit to the US this fall and sought to highlight US-China cooperation.
“In my view, US-China relations have remained stable overall,” Xi told Kerry at Beijing’s Great Hall of the People, adding that he “look[ed] forward to continue to grow this relationship” on his upcoming visit.
Despite those words, which came shortly before Kerry left Beijing and arrived in Seoul, South Korea, friction over China’s construction in the South China Sea was evident and clouded the start of Kerry’s brief trip to Asia.
The US and most members of ASEAN want a halt to the projects, which they suspect are aimed at building islands and other land features over which China can claim sovereignty.
“We are concerned about the pace and scope of China’s land reclamation in the South China Sea,” Kerry said on Saturday.
He urged China to speed up talks with ASEAN on guidelines for handling maritime activity in disputed areas.
The goal is to help “reduce tensions and increase the prospect of diplomatic solutions,” Kerry said.
“I think we agree that the region needs smart diplomacy in order to conclude the ASEAN-China code of conduct and not outposts and military strips,” Kerry told reporters at a news conference with Chinese Minister of Foreign Affairs Wang Yi (王毅).
Wang indicated that, while China was prepared to talk, it would not back down on the construction that he said, “is something that falls fully within the scope of China’s sovereignty.”
“The determination of the Chinese side to safeguard our own sovereignty and territorial integrity is as firm as a rock, and it is unshakeable,” he said.
“It has always been our view that we need to find appropriate solutions to the issues we have through communications and negotiations that we have among the parties directly concerned with peaceful and diplomatic means on the basis of respecting historical facts and international norms. This position will remain unchanged in the future,” Wang said.
Wang added that the differences between China and the US could be managed “as long as we can avoid misunderstanding and, even more importantly, avoid miscalculation.”
The Chinese claims and land reclamation projects have rattled the region, where South China Sea islands and reefs are contested by China, Taiwan and four other nations. These activities have led to maritime clashes, accompanied by nationalistic protests and serious diplomatic rows.
The US says it takes no position on the sovereignty claims, but insists they must be negotiated. Washington also says ensuring maritime safety and access to some of the world’s busiest commercial shipping routes is a US national security priority.
China has bristled at what it sees as US interference in the region and wants to negotiate with the ASEAN countries individually, something those much smaller nations fear would not be fair.
Despite the clear disagreements over the South China Sea, Kerry and Wang said they were on track to make progress in other areas.
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