China warns against bid to sow discord over South China Sea

BANGKOK -- China on Wednesday warned outside nations against any attempt to sow discord between Beijing and Southeast Asian countries by playing up disputes over the South China Sea, saying differences can be resolved peacefully between the affected parties themselves.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi -- speaking after talks with his counterparts from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations at an annual meeting of the 10-member bloc -- also reaffirmed Beijing's commitment to conclude a Code of Conduct with ASEAN governing the South China Sea that will make the disputed region more stable.

China's aggressive territorial claims in the South China Sea -- which carries a third of global shipping -- has drawn rebuke from the United States and become a flashpoint for the region, with parts of the sea overlapping claims by ASEAN members Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia and Brunei.

Tensions flared anew after Chinese naval boats rammed Philippine fishing boats and Vietnam accused China of violating its sovereignty by interfering with offshore oil and gas activities in disputed waters. The U.S. State Department has said Chinese action in Vietnam undermined regional energy security and urged Beijing to "cease its bullying behavior" and refrain from "provocative and destabilizing activity."

The U.S. also regularly sails and flies military assets close to the disputed areas in what it calls freedom of navigation operations. On Tuesday, Philippine Defense Chief Delfin Lorenzana also criticized China's "bullying" actions in the South China Sea and said Beijing's peaceful assurances contrast with its behavior in the contested waters.

Wang said Wednesday Beijing and ASEAN nations can settle the disputes without any interference.

"We think non-regional countries should not deliberately amplify such differences or disputes," he said when asked about U.S. involvement. "Instead they should support the efforts by China and ASEAN in having these differences properly addressed."

He said China and ASEAN aim to conclude talks on the Code of Conduct within three years or even earlier, which will not only manage disputes more effectively but ensure better protection for the rights of non-regional countries in the waters.

Wang also said China is exploring plans to "institutionalize" joint military exercises with ASEAN countries in the region after two previous drills.

ASEAN and China have completed the first round of negotiations on the code, but experts said the next two rounds of talks are likely to be contentious because there is no sign China will agree to anything that would undermine its maritime claims.

ASEAN foreign ministers, in a joint communique after their annual meeting earlier Wednesday, said some ministers had expressed concerns on "the land reclamations, activities and serious incidents in the area which have eroded trust and confidence" and raised tensions. They didn't name any country but repeated calls for "non-militarization and self-restraint in the conduct of all activities by claimants and all other states."

They also stressed the importance of upholding international law, including a U.N. sea treaty Beijing has not followed, according to a 2016 international arbitration ruling.

Two-way trade between ASEAN members and China topped $580 billion last year, while Chinese investment in Southeast Asian nations hit nearly $10 billion, making the region its second-largest investment destination for the first time, Wang said, adding China has infrastructure and transportation projects under its Belt and Road Initiative with every ASEAN member.

The South China Sea dispute has highlighted the growing rivalry between the U.S. and China to assert influence in the region, putting ASEAN nations in a tight spot. At their summit in June, ASEAN leaders adopted an Indo-Pacific engagement framework that sought to find a middle ground and keep on the good side of both Washington and Beijing.

Beijing is attempting to project its influence globally through its Belt and Road Initiative, an ambitious development program of major infrastructure projects. Meanwhile, Washington is using the Free and Open Indo-Pacific strategy, which Beijing says is directed against it.

Also on Wednesday, the meeting's host, Thailand, urged ASEAN members to be "more agile" amid increasing nationalism globally.

"We must recognize that looking inward and being myopic is not our option and never will be," Thai Foreign Minister Don Pramudwinai said in opening the annual ASEAN ministerial meeting. "Amid great turmoil, we must be more outward and forward looking than ever before."

He warned the road ahead "could be treacherous" but said greater cooperation among ASEAN members and outside partners could help sustain long-term growth.

ASEAN, which is seeking to boost its own voice as a global player, is also playing host to a series of foreign ministers from key strategic and dialogue partners, including U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.