us wont tolerate navigation curbs in tense south china sea
Last Updated : GMT 09:03:51
Almaghrib Today, almaghrib today
Almaghrib Today, almaghrib today
Last Updated : GMT 09:03:51
Almaghrib Today, almaghrib today

US won't tolerate navigation curbs in tense South China Sea

Almaghrib Today, almaghrib today

Almaghrib Today, almaghrib today US won't tolerate navigation curbs in tense South China Sea

US Secretary of State John Kerry
Kuala Lumpur - AFP

The United States warned Thursday it would not tolerate efforts to control sea and air routes in the South China Sea, as Southeast Asian nations debated how hard to pressure Beijing on its island-building.

US Secretary of State John Kerry said at a regional summit that open navigation of the strategically important area was an "intrinsic right".

"Let me be clear: The United States will not accept restrictions on freedom of navigation and overflight, or other lawful uses of the sea," he told reporters in Kuala Lumpur, after attending a summit dominated by the flashpoint issue.

China has sparked alarm by expanding tiny reefs and constructing military posts, steps viewed by some of its neighbours as violating a regional pledge against provocative actions in the area.

The long simmering dispute has flared at the Malaysia meet, which is being hosted by the 10-nation Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and includes envoys from more than a dozen other nations such as China, Japan, South Korea and the US.

Beijing claims control over nearly the entire South China Sea, a key shipping route thought to hold rich oil and gas reserves.

Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia and Brunei -- all ASEAN members -- also have various claims, as does Taiwan, many of which overlap.

Each year the regional ASEAN bloc, which prides itself on its history of consensus diplomacy, releases a joint communique after the annual meeting of its foreign ministers, which took place Tuesday.

But the nations have been at loggerheads for the last three days over the wording of the paragraphs addressing the South China Sea.

Diplomatic sources told AFP that the Philippines and Vietnam in particular were pushing for stronger language on Chinese land reclamation, which could help shore up Beijing's disputed territorial claims.

But there was pushback from traditional China allies among the association, they added.

"China's friends are taking a hard stance," said one diplomat familiar with the drafting.

The diplomat did not specify which countries were taking a hard line, but Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar traditionally ally with China within ASEAN.

The tug-of-war raises the spectre of a 2012 ASEAN meeting hosted by Cambodia, when the bloc was unable for the first time in its four-decade history to issue a joint statement.

Cambodia was accused of precipitating the debacle by refusing to allow criticism of China over its maritime territorial assertions.

"China has already figured out how ASEAN works on the South China Sea, it knows how to divide us. Look at what happened in Cambodia," one diplomat at the talks in Kuala Lumpur told AFP.

Singapore Foreign Minister K. Shanmugam told reporters Thursday morning that the joint statement was supposed to have been completed the previous day.

"It has not been finalised as of now. There are difficulties," he said.

"The paragraphs relating to the South China Sea are causing some problems," he added.

- 'Already stopped' -

A draft of the communique obtained by AFP makes no mention of halting reclamation.

Instead it warns that recent developments in the sea "have the very potential of undermining peace, security and stability".

Delegates said they still hoped to get a final joint statement by the end of the day.

The United States and Southeast Asian nations have called for a halt to further land-reclamation and construction.

China had so far refused, but on Wednesday Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said land reclamation had "already stopped".

However some delegates in Kuala Lumpur have played down those claims.

One diplomat told reporters: "They're not saying they're stopping construction, nor are they saying they'll stop future reclamation."

At his press conference Kerry told reporters: "The Chinese have indicated that they have stopped. I hope it is true. I don't know yet."

almaghribtoday
almaghribtoday

GMT 16:39 2017 Monday ,08 May

Coal won't make a comeback

GMT 10:41 2017 Friday ,05 May

'Lobby money' behind fall of Philippine Chief

GMT 09:56 2017 Friday ,31 March

Climate change not caused by emissions

GMT 11:07 2017 Monday ,30 January

Egypt experience daily unfelt earthquakes

GMT 20:09 2017 Monday ,23 January

Palestin's minister stresses his effort

GMT 14:14 2017 Saturday ,21 January

Plans return to save sinking nation

GMT 11:23 2016 Sunday ,20 November

US climate commitment 'irreversible'

GMT 14:08 2016 Saturday ,19 November

'We count on your pragmatism'
Almaghrib Today, almaghrib today

Name *

E-mail *

Comment Title*

Comment *

: Characters Left

Mandatory *

Terms of use

Publishing Terms: Not to offend the author, or to persons or sanctities or attacking religions or divine self. And stay away from sectarian and racial incitement and insults.

I agree with the Terms of Use

Security Code*

us wont tolerate navigation curbs in tense south china sea us wont tolerate navigation curbs in tense south china sea

 



Name *

E-mail *

Comment Title*

Comment *

: Characters Left

Mandatory *

Terms of use

Publishing Terms: Not to offend the author, or to persons or sanctities or attacking religions or divine self. And stay away from sectarian and racial incitement and insults.

I agree with the Terms of Use

Security Code*

us wont tolerate navigation curbs in tense south china sea us wont tolerate navigation curbs in tense south china sea

 



Almaghrib Today, almaghrib today Skincare PR Performance Full Year 2017

GMT 09:22 2018 Monday ,22 January

Skincare PR Performance Full Year 2017
Almaghrib Today, almaghrib today New hunt for flight MH370 gets under way

GMT 11:03 2018 Wednesday ,24 January

New hunt for flight MH370 gets under way
Almaghrib Today, almaghrib today Modern colorful bedroom renovation

GMT 10:57 2017 Thursday ,21 December

Modern colorful bedroom renovation
Almaghrib Today, almaghrib today Puigdemont candidate for Catalan president

GMT 13:56 2018 Tuesday ,23 January

Puigdemont candidate for Catalan president
Almaghrib Today, almaghrib today Turkey detains dozens more

GMT 10:47 2018 Wednesday ,24 January

Turkey detains dozens more

GMT 12:50 2017 Friday ,15 September

Fati Jamali received offer to participate

GMT 11:50 2017 Friday ,08 September

Ragheb does not intend to participate in drama

GMT 09:45 2018 Friday ,19 January

Syria threatens to 'destroy' Turkish warplanes

GMT 14:54 2018 Sunday ,07 January

Monfils predicts 'tough' Australian Open

GMT 12:13 2017 Thursday ,24 August

Qamar praises reactions to “Kiss My Lips”

GMT 20:38 2012 Thursday ,08 November

Iraq needs $1 trillion to rebuild

GMT 19:53 2016 Thursday ,13 October

Study: Egypt 'first date fruit producer' in world

GMT 13:33 2016 Thursday ,25 August

European equities slide in choppy trade

GMT 16:06 2011 Monday ,01 August

England lucky as France draw Spain

GMT 11:23 2012 Thursday ,02 February

Facebook files for highly anticipated IPO

GMT 22:19 2017 Thursday ,17 August

Opening of border to Qatari pilgrims welcomed

GMT 10:06 2017 Tuesday ,17 October

Cuba has duty to prevent attacks on US envoys: Trump

GMT 08:19 2017 Friday ,14 April

Nelly Karim in Luxor to stimulate tourism
Almaghrib Today, almaghrib today
 
 Almaghrib Today Facebook,almaghrib today facebook  Almaghrib Today Twitter,almaghrib today twitter Almaghrib Today Rss,almaghrib today rss  Almaghrib Today Youtube,almaghrib today youtube  Almaghrib Today Youtube,almaghrib today youtube

Maintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2021 ©

Maintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2021 ©

.almaghribtoday .almaghribtoday .almaghribtoday .almaghribtoday
almaghribtoday almaghribtoday almaghribtoday
almaghribtoday
بناية النخيل - رأس النبع _ خلف السفارة الفرنسية _بيروت - لبنان
almaghribtoday, Almaghribtoday, Almaghribtoday