Outsiders should not poke their nose in the South China Sea

Bangkok: Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi warned ‘South China Sea is an issue between China and the ASEAN countries. The countries from outside need not poke their nose in this matter. The countries that are not from this marine region should not create an atmosphere of distrust between China and the ASEAN Countries.’ Although the Chinese Foreign Minister did not name any country, this warning by the Chinese Foreign Minister was targeting the patrolling carried out by the United States, Japan and Australia in the South China Sea region.

The ASEAN conference is being held in Thailand. While addressing the conference, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said that China is making efforts to resolve the South China Sea issue. The Chinese Foreign Minister assured that a meeting of the concerned countries would soon be convened, about the Code of Conduct prepared by China for the South China Sea. Foreign Minister Yi said that this dispute was limited only to the countries in the region.

Foreign Minister Yi alleged that the countries from outside the region are trying to create discord between China and the ASEAN countries. The Chinese Foreign Minister said ‘The countries not connected with this region should not bring up the difference of opinions and disputes of the past. The outside countries should not make capital of the past disputes to create disbelief between China and the ASEAN countries.’

But Vietnam expressed doubts regarding Chinese intentions. Vietnam accused China, who is claiming to make efforts to resolve the problem, of violating the sovereignty of its neighbouring countries, during the ASEAN conference. Vietnamese Deputy Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh criticised China’ Unilateral decisions, militarisation, war exercises and the activities of the Chinese ships in the Vanguard region, violate the Vietnamese sovereignty.’ The Vietnamese Deputy Foreign Minister also complained that the situation in the South China Sea has become very complicated.

Representatives from India, the United States, Russia, China, Japan and New Zealand are also present in the ASEAN conference. On this occasion of the meeting, Chinese aggression in the South China Sea was criticised once again. The southeast Asian countries agreed that they also have rights over the South China Sea along with China.

But China has claimed rights over almost the entire South China Sea. The United States has opposed the Chinese stand and has appealed to countries like Vietnam and the Philippines to stand against China for their rights. The United States has offered support to these Southeast Asian countries and has started patrolling the South China Sea region.

Meanwhile, since the last few days, Vietnam and the Philippines have made their stand more aggressive against China. The Philippines has announced that it will stand by the United States in a war against China and appealed to the United States to deploy its Seventh Navy fleet in the South China Sea. A few days ago, Vietnam had informed India regarding the developments in the region. Australia and Japan also had issued warnings to China by sending their destroyers to the region.