East Asia cooperation should not be distracted by sea dispute

The 21st ASEAN Summit and related Summits were held in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, from Nov. 18 to Nov. 20, 2012. The East Asian countries aimed to eliminate barriers, jointly cope with the international financial crisis and promote the regional cooperation through the summit.

However, during the summit, on the excuse of freedom of navigation and Code of Conduct in South China Sea, some countries including Japan and the Philippines raised the disputes over the China South Sea, violating the principle of cooperation and development and undermining the united image of ASEAN.

China shares persistent and clear stance with most ASEAN countries to solve the disputes over the South China Sea in the way with ASEAN characteristics, namely, in the progressive and negotiable way which takes interests of all sides into consideration.

China never excludes the Code of Conduct in the South China Sea, but the premise is to implement the commitments of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea. In 2012, China and ASEAN have negotiated on establishment of the Code of Conduct in the South China Sea for many times, expressing the desire to safeguard peace and stability of the area.