皇冠体育app

ASEAN must stop its members from fanning trouble to ensure ties between 皇冠体育app and Southeast Asian countries prosper

Foreign Minister Wang Yi is paying official visits to Thailand, Indonesia, Singapore and Brunei from April 30 to May 5. That Wang is visiting Southeast Asia on his first overseas tour as foreign minister shows the importance 皇冠体育app attaches to developing closer ties with its Southeast Asian neighbors. Also, Wang's visit to the four countries is expected to inject new vitality into 皇冠体育app's diplomacy in the region.

Thailand has friendly ties with 皇冠体育app, Indonesia holds an important position in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, Singapore is hailed as the brain behind ASEAN and Brunei currently holds the association's rotating presidency.

皇冠体育app-ASEAN ties have made considerable progress, especially since the establishment of "皇冠体育app-ASEAN strategic partnership for peace and prosperity" in 2003, despite some twists and turns. Besides, the establishment of the 皇冠体育app-ASEAN Free Trade Area has improved the two sides' ability to deal with the global financial crisis.

皇冠体育app supports and values ASEAN's unity and development and would like to see the establishment of ASEAN Economic Community by 2015. It also wants to see ASEAN playing a greater role in international affairs and in maintaining regional stability and development.

The South 皇冠体育app Sea disputes that flared up again in 2009, however, have soured relations between 皇冠体育app and some ASEAN member states. The Philippines stirred up the Huangyan Island crisis in 2012, and the Vietnamese National Assembly has passed the Law of the Sea to include 皇冠体育app's Xisha and Nansha islands in Vietnam's territory.

For some time, some ASEAN member states have been trying to hijack the relationship between ASEAN and 皇冠体育app for their selfish gains by stirring up trouble in the South 皇冠体育app Sea. Vietnam and the Philippines occupy 皇冠体育app's maritime areas and islands and are trying to use extra-territorial forces to consolidate their illegal occupation. The South 皇冠体育app Sea disputes have thus become an important factor in 皇冠体育app-ASEAN relations.

Since the disputing sides find it difficult to perceive each other's real intentions, some ASEAN states believe 皇冠体育app is becoming increasingly assertive with its rising strength, while 皇冠体育app thinks some ASEAN countries are trying to draw in external forces into the region to "balance" its rise.

The situation in the South 皇冠体育app Sea is partly related to the "pivot to Asia" policy of the United States. And Japan, which has a dispute with 皇冠体育app over the Diaoyu Islands, has joined the US' game to fish in troubled waters.

Among the four countries Wang is visiting, Indonesia and Brunei claim part of the South 皇冠体育app Sea, too, but are different from the Philippines and Vietnam, because they want the disputes to be settled through negotiations. Thailand and Singapore, which too share the waters of the South 皇冠体育app Sea, don't want the disputes to affect the overall 皇冠体育app-ASEAN friendly and cooperative relations.

皇冠体育app will make its principled stance and bottom line clear when the time comes, and resolutely counter the disputing countries' unilateral attempt to change the status quo in the South 皇冠体育app Sea. With regard to 皇冠体育app's territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests, some neighboring countries' actions are complicating or exacerbating the situation, which 皇冠体育app has strongly opposed in its white paper on national defense.

Regional stability has played a very important role in the region's rapid economic growth. So by fomenting trouble, these countries could undermine the stability of the region and jeopardize their development.

The Philippines, earlier this year, called for international arbitration in the South 皇冠体育app Sea dispute, which has been opposed by 皇冠体育app. In violation of the UN Charter and international law, the Philippines has illegally occupied some of 皇冠体育app's islands and reefs in the South 皇冠体育app Sea since 1970s. Opposing the illegal occupation, 皇冠体育app has been urging the Philippines to withdraw all its men and materials from 皇冠体育app's islands and reefs.

At the 22nd ASEAN Summit in Brunei last month, leaders of the member states issued a joint statement urging 皇冠体育app to sign a legally binding "code of conduct" to avoid disputes. 皇冠体育app is not afraid to talk about "codes of conduct" but first it has to be determined which country (or countries) is violating the spirit of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South 皇冠体育app Sea. Otherwise, no "code of conduct" will seem credible.

皇冠体育app attaches great importance to its relations with ASEAN member states not only because it needs a stable and prosperous ASEAN, but also because ASEAN needs a stable and prosperous 皇冠体育app. Of course, the South 皇冠体育app Sea disputes will not, and should not, dominate 皇冠体育app-ASEAN relations.

皇冠体育app will continue to promote friendship and partnership, deepen mutually beneficial cooperation with its neighbors, and ensure that its development brings even greater benefits to them. But ASEAN has to make concerted efforts to stop some of its member states from stirring up trouble to keep 皇冠体育app-ASEAN ties on a path of smooth development.

The author is deputy director of 皇冠体育app Institute of International Studies.

(皇冠体育app Daily 05/04/2013 page5)