ASEAN, US concerned about ‘ongoing’ militarization in South China Sea

Representatives of the United States and Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) on Tuesday expressed concern over the ongoing militarization of outposts in the South China Sea during a dialogue in Kuala Lumpur.

They also reaffirmed their commitment to peacefully resolve disputes in the South China Sea in accordance with international laws, according to an official statement.

"Participants reaffirmed the need to ensure peaceful resolution of disputes in accordance with international law, including in the South China Sea, with full respect for legal and diplomatic processes," the statement read.

It added that participants "noted efforts to achieve a meaningful Code of Conduct, but shared concerns about ongoing militarization of outposts."

Over the recent years, China has beefed up its reclamation and  reported militarization activities in the disputed waters.

Calls to come up with a code of conduct for the South China Sea have also heightened due to a series of confrontations between the superpower and neighboring countries with overlapping claims on the territory, among them the Philippines.

The two-day dialogue in Malaysia aimed to highlight "the ongoing importance of the US-ASEAN Strategic Partnership" was co-chaired by the Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs Acting Assistant Secretary Susan Thornton, together with Secretary General Dato’ Ramlan Ibrahim of Malaysia.

This year's meeting touched on the US-ASEAN commitment to "rules-based" order and to the "ASEAN-centered" regional architecture. There was an exchange of views on the free and open Indo-Pacific concept.

The representatives also welcomed recent developments concerning the Democratic People's Republic of Korea's (DPRK) "willingness" to engage with the United States on denuclearization, but shared "continued grave concern" about the communist nation's nuclear and ballistic missile programs.

"They committed to maintaining maximum pressure until the DPRK takes concrete steps towards complete, verifiable, and irreversible denuclearization, and called for full implementation of all relevant UN Security Council Resolutions," the statement said.

In line with this, the participants reaffirmed their stance that the "use of chemical weapons anywhere, at any time, by anyone, under any circumstances is reprehensible, and that those responsible for such use should be held accountable."

They also went over the importance of countering terrorism and implementing UN Security Council Resolutions in order "to prevent foreign terrorist fighter travel."

They "remain committed to information sharing, security, countering terrorism finance, and preventing and countering violent extremism," the statement added.

Also having shared concerns about "malicious" actors exploiting cyberspace, participants discussed the need for "international law and non-binding peacetime norms" in the use of information and communications technologies .

The statement said parties agreed to enhance economic cooperation through the US-ASEAN Connect, the US-ASEAN Trade and Investment Framework Arrangement, and capacity building programs.

Next year, Singapore will be chairing the ASEAN with the newly-welcomed theme, “resilience and innovation.” —Margaret Claire Layug/KBK, GMA News