Beijing's approach to South China Sea tensions: reduce now, resolve later
Chinese President Xi Jinping's recent
Southeast Asian tour has put the
South China Sea – a simmering cauldron of territorial and maritime disputes – back into focus.
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Amid joint statements brimming with diplomatic finesse, Beijing is sending a clear message: it seeks to
manage tensions and not escalate them while keeping its strategic compass firmly pointed towards cooperation and regional stability.
The statements – issued alongside Hanoi and Kuala Lumpur – emphasise peaceful dispute resolution, adherence to international law including the
United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and an aversion to escalations.
Against a backdrop of United States-Philippines military drills and lingering scepticism about Beijing's intentions, Xi's tour revealed a nuanced diplomatic playbook. Far from the caricature of an expansionist power, China is signalling its willingness to embrace international law, pragmatic dispute resolution and a vision of shared prosperity that respects
Asean.
Beijing wants to keep South China Sea disputes in their proper place – significant, yes, but not the be-all and end-all of ties with neighbours. The China-Vietnam joint statement shows that both sides want to manage their differences to boost cooperation. Similarly, the China-Malaysia joint statement frames maritime cooperation as just one pillar of their comprehensive strategic partnership.
Malaysia's proposed East Coast Rail Link. Photo: Malaysia Rail Link
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