Latest news with #COC
The Star
2 days ago
- Politics
- The Star
Chinese foreign minister elaborates on South China Sea issue
KUALA LUMPUR: Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Saturday (July 12) spoke to reporters about the South China Sea issue in response to questions while attending annual Asean Plus foreign ministers' meetings here. Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, said that the South China Sea issue is discussed every year at the meetings, and this year was no exception. "What struck me most this time is the clear temperature difference between regional countries and a few countries from outside the region." At the China-Asean foreign ministers' meeting, the discussion on the South China Sea was held in a more calm and confident manner, becasse compared with other seas in the world, the South China Sea is clearly stable. There are no problems with freedom of navigation and overflight, Wang said Some countries outside the region continue to make irresponsible remarks about the South China Sea. Although their tone has notably softened this year, they have not stopped, he said, adding tt seems they fear the South China Sea will not be chaotic. Regional countries are now well aware of these "old tricks." Wang said he proposed that a new narrative should be built for the South China Sea. We should not always associate the South China Sea with friction, conflict, or confrontation, but with peace, stability, and cooperation. This should become the mainstream narrative in the future, stated the Chinese foreign minister. China and Asean countries are working toward this direction, he said, adding there is still one country that seems out of sync with the others, but I believe it will come to eventually understand. Acting as a pawn for others will only lead to being sacrificed. Wang said that China and Asean countries have agreed to upgrade the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC) by formulating a Code of Conduct (COC) that is effective, substantive, and consistent with international law. All sides also agreed to strive to conclude the COC as scheduled next year, he said. In the next stage, consultations will become more frequent, and the process will speed up. We have the confidence, capability, and wisdom to maintain stability in the South China Sea, remove external interference, and jointly build the South China Sea into a sea of peace, friendship, and cooperation. Wang emphasized that during the meetings, he also elaborated on China's position regarding the so-called South China Sea arbitration case. This arbitration case has serious flaws in terms of fact-finding and application of law. It carried out actions that violated the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea under the name of the convention itself, and its damage to regional peace and stability as well as the maritime order has become increasingly evident. Wang stated that we must ask: if compulsory arbitration can be abused, is there still value in diplomatic efforts? Should bilateral consultations be abandoned? Do commitments under the DOC still count? If territorial sovereignty and maritime demarcation issues are submitted for arbitration, should the exclusive declarations under the convention still be respected? Does an agreement between China and the Philippines to resolve disputes through dialogue still hold? And if all islands and reefs in the South China Sea are denied maritime entitlements, should the world's maritime map be redrawn? In fact, this so-called arbitration case is a political manipulation and should be thrown into the trash heap of history, Wang said. - Xinhua
The Star
4 days ago
- Business
- The Star
Tok Mat: China to sign treaty as soon as possible
KUALA LUMPUR, July 10 - Malaysia's Foreign Minister, Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan, and China's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Wang Yi, arrive at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre to attend the ASEAN Post-Ministerial Conference with China, held in conjunction with the 58th ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting (AMM) and related meetings today. -- fotoBERNAMA (2025) COPYRIGHT RESERVED KUALA LUMPUR: China has committed to signing the Southeast Asia Nuclear Weapon-Free Zone (SEANWFZ) Treaty 'as soon as possible' without reservation, says Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan. The Foreign Minister said Beijing's commitment marks a significant step forward for Asean. 'China has made a commitment to ensure that it will sign the SEANWFZ Treaty without reservation. 'This is something very good for Asean. '(China will sign the treaty) as soon as possible when the documentation is ready,' he told reporters after the Asean Post-Ministerial Conference with China. Mohamad described the meeting with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi as 'very good', noting that discussions also covered routine bilateral and multilateral issues. These discussions included ensuring free passage and open skies in the South China Sea, in accordance with the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). Meanwhile, Wang said the completion of negotiations for the China-Asean Free Trade Area 3.0 to be signed this year would deepen ties between China and Asean member states. He said stability on South China Sea issues would also be effectively managed with the third reading of the Code of Conduct (COC). 'We have completed the third reading of the COC consultation, effectively managed differences and maintained overall stability at sea,' he said. When met on the sidelines of the Asean+3 (China, Japan and South Korea) meeting, Wang did not respond when asked if he would meet United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio. 'We oppose excessive tariffs,' he told reporters briefly when asked about China's stance towards the tariffs. On July 9, US President Donald Trump announced a slew of tariffs, where Malaysia, Japan, South Korea, Tunisia and Kazakhstan were slapped with a 25% rate.
Malaysia Sun
5 days ago
- Business
- Malaysia Sun
China's expansive South China sea claims fuel regional instability, trade risks, ASEAN warns
Kuala Lumpur [Malaysia], July 10 (ANI): The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) has urged all parties involved in the South China Sea dispute to act with 'wisdom and prudence' to preserve regional peace and safeguard global trade, the South China Morning Post (SCMP) reported on Thursday. Speaking at the ASEAN-China meeting in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia's Foreign Minister Mohamad Hasan warned that rising geopolitical tensions, particularly between China and the United States, posed serious risks to regional security and the global economy. 'We must therefore ensure that geopolitical tensions do not escalate or threaten to undermine security and global trade in the South China Sea,' he said, as quoted by SCMP. The remarks come as tensions grow between Beijing and Washington over both trade and territorial issues. ASEAN member states have long walked a diplomatic tightrope, relying on the US for regional security while deepening trade ties with China, the SCMP reported. That balance is being tested further by the looming imposition of 40 per cent US tariffs on Chinese goods, set to take effect on August 1, following President Donald Trump's recent trade announcement. At the heart of ASEAN's concern is China's expansive claim over the South China Sea, based on a controversial 10-dash line map. The waterway, which sees over USD 3.5 trillion worth of trade annually, is claimed in part by multiple ASEAN members, including the Philippines, Vietnam, and Malaysia. China's growing military presence and island-building in contested areas have raised alarms across the region, according to SCMP. Mohamad Hasan also referenced ongoing talks on the long-delayed Code of Conduct (COC) in the South China Sea. 'We are confident that with the full commitment of all parties in the negotiations, we should be able to conclude an effective and substantive COC in the not-too-distant future,' he said, as reported by SCMP. China was represented at the meeting by Foreign Affairs Minister Wang Yi, who met ASEAN ministers ahead of a series of talks involving other key partners, including Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio as well as top diplomats from Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Japan and South Korea. According to SCMP, Rubio, the highest-ranking US official to visit the region since Trump's return to office, was also scheduled to meet Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim later in the day. ASEAN continues to emphasise neutrality and unity amid growing pressure to choose sides. Still, the region remains deeply vulnerable to the global rivalry between China and the United States, the South China Morning Post reported. (ANI)
Focus Malaysia
5 days ago
- Politics
- Focus Malaysia
ASEAN calls for prudence in South China Sea, lauds progress on COC
ASEAN has called for all parties involved in the South China Sea to exercise 'wisdom and prudence' in managing the delicate situation in the strategic waterway, to ensure that geopolitical tensions do not escalate. Malaysia's Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan said the fragility of global peace is becoming more apparent by the day, and therefore ASEAN must redouble its efforts to ensure peace and stability in the region are maintained. 'We must therefore ensure that geopolitical tensions do not escalate or threaten to undermine security and global trade in the South China Sea,' he said in his opening remarks at the ASEAN Post-Ministerial Conference with China in conjunction with the 58th ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting (AMM) and related meetings on Thursday (July 10). Mohamad said ASEAN welcomed the progress on the Code of Conduct in the South China Sea (COC) and hopes for continued positive momentum. 'We are confident that with the full commitment of all parties in the negotiations, we should be able to conclude an effective and substantive COC in the not-too-distant future,' he said. Mohamad also addressed the growing global concerns over nuclear weapons and the non-proliferation regime, saying that ASEAN welcomes China's readiness to become the first Nuclear Weapon State (NWS) to sign and ratify the Protocol to the Southeast Asia Nuclear Weapon-Free Zone (SEANWFZ) Treaty without reservations. 'This would mark a significant step forward, demonstrating China's leadership and commitment to a nuclear weapon-free Southeast Asia,' he said. He added that Malaysia, as the Country Coordinator for ASEAN-China Dialogue Relations, is committed to working with all ASEAN member states and China to further advance the partnership to deliver real benefits to the peoples. ‒ July 10, 2025 Main image: Bernama
The Sun
5 days ago
- Politics
- The Sun
Indonesia urges ASEAN unity to protect regional stability amid tensions
JAKARTA: Indonesian Foreign Minister Sugiono has urged ASEAN to strengthen its unity and maintain its central role in preserving regional stability amid escalating geopolitical tensions. His remarks came during the ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Retreat in Kuala Lumpur, where key issues such as the Myanmar crisis, South China Sea disputes, and transnational crime were discussed. 'ASEAN must reaffirm its role as the anchor of the regional order. Unity and centrality cannot be compromised,' Sugiono said in a statement from the ministry. He emphasised the need for immediate action to halt violence in Myanmar and ensure swift humanitarian aid delivery. Ministers at the retreat reiterated support for the Five-Point Consensus as a framework to resolve Myanmar's prolonged crisis. Additionally, concerns were raised over rising transnational crimes, including online scams linked to human trafficking and drug smuggling. Progress on the South China Sea Code of Conduct (COC) was welcomed, with Sugiono urging ASEAN to finalise a meaningful agreement. 'ASEAN must uphold its commitment to concluding a substantive and effective COC to ensure maritime stability,' he said. Amid global instability, Sugiono highlighted ASEAN's responsibility to safeguard citizens in conflict zones using existing emergency protocols. The retreat ended with a renewed pledge to foster regional resilience and peace. - Bernama
