Kerry calls for swift agreement on sea code of conduct

WASHINGTON – US Secretary of State John Kerry urged China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to move swiftly to reach a binding code of conduct for addressing disputes in the South China Sea and West Philippine Sea.

“Your region is home to the world’s busiest ports and most critical sea lanes, so stability where you live matters deeply to prosperity where we live. And it matters around the world,” he told an ASEAN ministerial meeting in New York on Friday.

“This is going to require respect for international law and unimpeded lawful commerce in the South China Sea. And that’s why China and ASEAN should move as swiftly as possible to reach a binding code of conduct for addressing disputes without threats, without coercion and without use of force,” he said.

Kerry will visit Bali, Indonesia on Oct. 4-7 to head the US delegation to the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Ministerial Meeting and to join President Barack Obama for his APEC related meetings.

With Kerry’s exhortation came China’s expressing concern over the three-week joint Philippines-US military drill in Luzon, which began last week.

A China Daily report said Beijing was worried about the joint exercises, which began on Sept.18, and urged countries in the region not to act recklessly.

“Peace, stability and prosperity are desired by people in the region and need to be maintained by all relevant parties,” Ministry of National Defense spokesman Geng Yansheng said on Thursday. “Parties outside the region should take more action that favors peace and stability, rather than sowing dissension,” Geng said.

The US embassy in Manila announced that the joint amphibious landing exercise would conclude on Oct. 11.

The exercises involved more than 2,300 servicemen – mostly Marines – from both countries.

The Philippines and the US are currently negotiating for bigger US military rotational presence in the country. An arrangement is also being worked out to expand US access to Philippine military facilities.

A proposed framework deal for such an arrangement will be treated as a mere executive agreement requiring no Senate concurrence.

Appeal from China

Meanwhile, China appealed to the Philippines for help in removing existing “obstacles”  to further development of bilateral relations.   

In her speech at the reception in celebration of the 64th founding anniversary of China held on Friday at the Makati Shangri-la, Chinese Ambassador Ma Keqing said the Chinese government attaches great importance to its friendly relations with the Philippines.

“We expect the Philippine side to work with us, to remove the existing obstacles, so as to create an atmosphere favorable for a sound and steady development of our bilateral relations,” Ma said.

“I believe this is the shared desire of our two peoples, which not only serves the fundamental interests of both countries, but also contributes to regional peace, stability and development,” she said.

Ma pointed out the Chinese and the Filipinos have had incessant exchanges for a millennium. Since the two countries established diplomatic relations 38 years ago, she said trade and cultural interactions have progressed steadily.

Ma added that China is the Philippines’ third largest export market and the largest source of imports.

She said the two sides have held diplomatic, defense and consular consultations as well as a series of trade, cultural and sports exchanges this year, “all demonstrating the resilience and vitality of our bilateral ties.”

Since the birth of the People’s Republic, she said the Chinese people have withstood myriad hardships and tests, and yielded tremendous world-renowned achievements.

She pointed out that over the last three decades of China’s reform and opening-up, the country’s rapid economic growth has benefited its 1.3 billion population, as well as the region and the world in general.

China is now the largest trading partner of some 120 countries, and its accumulated outbound direct investment reached $530 billion by the end of 2012.

While China is speeding up its pace of economic restructuring and upgrading, she said the Chinese economy has maintained a sound and steady momentum.

The ambassador said the Chinese people have set a higher target for transforming China into a prosperous, strong, democratic, and culturally developed  socialist country.

“To make the Chinese dream become true, we must undertake great endeavor to tackle whatever challenges in economic and social development,” Ma said. – With Pia Lee-Brago