Singapore’s top diplomat yesterday expressed “grave concern” over altercations in the South China Sea following a near collision between Chinese and Philippine vessels in the highly contested region.
Singaporean Minister for Foreign Affairs Vivian Balakrishnan said his government wants all nations, including superpowers, to work together to ensure “free access and opportunities” in Southeast Asia and its sea lanes.
“So obviously we do view any altercations, conditions for incidents at sea, with grave concern,” he told reporters in Canberra.
Photo: EPA-EFE
Tensions have escalated in recent months between China and the Philippines over the South China Sea. Two China Coast Guard vessels blocked Philippine patrol boats near the Second Thomas Shoal (Renai Shoal, 仁愛暗沙) on April 23. Beijing and Manila both defended the actions of their vessels.
Balakrishnan said that it was important to “head off these situations” and emphasized the importance of ASEAN’s ongoing negotiations for a code of conduct in the South China Sea.
“It will not resolve the disputes over sovereignty, but it can help build confidence,” he said.
Balakrishnan was speaking at a news conference with Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs Penny Wong (黃英賢) following an annual meeting of the Singapore-Australia Joint Ministerial Committee.
He gave some of his strongest comments yet in support of the AUKUS agreement, a security partnership between Australia, the US and the UK, which could see Canberra operating a fleet of nuclear submarines as early as the 2030s.
As long as the AUKUS agreement contributed “constructively” to regional security, Singapore would support it, Balakrishnan said.
He said he hoped the US and China could stabilize their relationship to “maximize the options for all of us.”
“That would give all of us much relief and a sense of stability,” he said.
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