Asean calls for ‘wisdom and prudence' in South China Sea
Association of Southeast Asian Nations on Thursday urged all parties to act with 'wisdom and prudence' to uphold peace and security in the South China Sea, warning that any disruption to the vital waterway could have a disastrous effect on global trade.
Escalating trade and technology tensions between the
United States and
China have put Asean member nations under increased pressure to pick a side.
Asean has long been reliant on Washington as a security counterbalance to Beijing's expansive claim over the
South China Sea , even as the region leans closer to the Asian superpower to bolster trade and cushion the blow from punishing American tariffs of up to 40 per cent that US President
Donald Trump has said will kick in on August 1.
But
Southeast Asia faced real risks from increasing global uncertainty and geopolitical tensions, which could shake the region's peace and stability, Asean warned on Thursday.
Asean foreign ministers pose with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi (sixth left) during the Asean Post-Ministerial Conference with China in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on Thursday. Photo: AP
'We must therefore ensure that geopolitical tensions do not escalate or threaten to undermine security and global trade in the South China Sea,'
Malaysia 's Foreign Minister Mohamad Hasan said in his opening remarks at the Asean-China meeting in Kuala Lumpur.
'Towards this end, Asean calls on all parties to manage the situation in the South China Sea with wisdom and prudence.'
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