China, ASEAN members reach consensus on peace (2)

Strategic partnership

"We should be cautious of some parties and countries provocations and trouble-making moves in this region for the sake of their own interests," Wang said at the joint news conference after meeting with his Indonesian counterpart on Thursday, a clear response to accusations of China's so-called assertive posture regarding the South China Sea.

In Singapore and Thailand, Wang and leaders from the countries pledged to further expand and deepen the strategic partnership between China and ASEAN, as the latter works on establishing an ASEAN "community" and accelerates regional integration.

As for China's position on South China Sea issues, Wang stressed in the news conference after meeting his Indonesian counterpart Marty Natalegawa that the Chinese government has a clear, steadfast and consistent resolve in safeguarding state sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Luo Yongkun, a researcher at the China Institute of Contemporary International Relations, said the South China Sea issue has been played up under the media limelight against the backdrop of the changed geopolitical structure in the region, especially Washington's pivoting of its Asia policies in recent years.

"Some so-called US allies in the region hoped to take the opportunity to contain China," Luo said.

Manila claimed on April 26 that an international arbitration court had set up a tribunal to which it took the South China Sea dispute for a verdict in January.

China rejected the Philippine move, demanding the country withdraw all its nationals and facilities from the islands and reefs that are "illegally occupied".

"The Philippines' drive for international arbitration has run against the spirit of the DOC (Declaration on the Conduct of Parties) because the declaration requires contending parties to resolve territorial issues through bilateral negotiations," said Wu Shicun, director of the National Institute for South China Sea Studies.

However, there is no major trouble in communication between China and ASEAN members because they have a series of dialogue channels in place, including the ASEAN Regional Forum and the 10+1 grouping, Luo said.

China has always remained open to discussions on the Code of Conduct in the South China Sea, Wang said at the news conference on Thursday.