Cayetano avoids citing China land reclamation, militarization in SCS

The Philippines, as leader of an Asian Security Forum, belatedly issued a statement without mentioning land reclamations and militarization in the South China Sea, echoing China's position on the matter.

Foreign Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano avoided using words, phrases and controversial language in the statement on behalf of the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) Regional Forum or ARF.

Even though the security meeting ended on Monday, the ARF chairman’s statement was released only late Tuesday.

The ARF is the largest international security gathering that brings together the 10- member ASEAN and 17 dialogue partners that include ministers from the US, Japan, Australia, South Korea and Russia. The forum was held back-to-back with the ASEAN foreign ministers' meetings over the weekend.

Cayetano’s statement was in stark contrast to the ASEAN joint communiqué that was released by the regional bloc a day after a meeting on Sunday.

ASEAN foreign ministers clashed over the wording of their joint statement, particularly passages referring to the South China Sea.

The regional bloc decides by consensus, and a veto by one member can derail a proposal.

ASEAN groups the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei, Thailand, Singapore, Indonesia, Laos, Cambodia and Myanmar.

Vietnam insisted

Before it was finalized, Vietnam insisted on a stronger language against China's land reclamations and military activities along the region's maritime routes – delaying the issuance of the communiqué.

In the final communiqué, the paragraphs on the South China Sea were stronger than expected citing the concerns raised by some ministers.

It included an indirect reference to the arbitration ruling won by the Philippines last year, which called for "full respect for diplomatic and legal process," although it was placed in another portion of the document where it can't be linked to the disputes.

In a news conference on Tuesday, Cayetano said he advocated strongly against the use of strong language and inclusion of controversial issues in the texts on the South China Sea. But he was compelled to accede in favor of the majority.

As chairman of the ASEAN 2017, the Philippines has leeway in setting the tone and language of the chairman’s statement on the annual gatherings that encompass relevant issues – unlike a joint communiqué, which is a negotiated document where member states can argue their views and concerns.

Instead of mentioning China’s aggressive acts in the disputed waters, Cayetano highlighted in his statement the progress in the relationship between China and the ASEAN amid the lingering territorial disputes.

The statement said the ARF members, which include the US, Japan and Australia, “warmly welcomed the improving cooperation” between ASEAN and China through the completion of a framework of the code of conduct covering the South China Sea.

“The ministers recognized the benefits that would be gained from having the South China Sea as a sea of peace, stability and sustainable development,” Cayetano’s statement said.

Concerns

While ministers “took note of concerns” expressed by “some member states” on the situation in the South China Sea, “they reaffirmed the importance of enhancing mutual trust and confidence and exercising self-restraint in the conduct of activities.”

It urged countries to avoid actions that may complicate the situation and, instead, pursue the peaceful resolution of disputes without resorting to force, in line with international laws.

During the forum, Cayetano said the ARF ministers reaffirmed the importance of maintaining “peace, stability, security and freedom of navigation and overflight in and above the South China Sea.”

Under President Rodrigo Duterte, the Philippines adopted a friendly stance towards China, which the administration credited for the millions of dollars of development and infrastructure pledges.

His friendly overtures to China helped defuse tensions between Beijing and Manila particularly over the maritime disputes, especially involving the Scarborough Shoal, which China seized from the Philippines in 2012, but has since allowed Filipinos to fish in the area.

In the ASEAN summit hosted by Manila in April, Duterte had the final say in the language of the traditional chairman’s statement. He dropped references to China’s aggressive stance over the South China Sea.

In recent years, Beijing took on a more assertive position regarding its South China Sea claims, beefing up its reclamation activities and transforming previously submerged features into artificial islands with multi-level buildings and runways. It also installed missile defense systems, triggering concerns from the US, Japan and Australia. — VDS/KVD, GMA News