Japan and the Philippines used ASEAN’s key regional security forums to raise concerns over China’s actions in the East and South China Seas, prompting Beijing to issue a sharp public rebuttal defending its positions on maritime disputes and Taiwan.
The exchange unfolded during Thursday’s 33rd ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) and the 16th East Asia Summit (EAS) Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Manila, where ASEAN and its major dialogue partners-including the United States, China, Japan, Russia and India-discussed regional security issues.
Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi warned against ‘unilateral attempts to change the status quo by force or coercion’ in both the East and South China Seas, language Tokyo has increasingly used in response to Chinese activities near the Japanese-administered Senkaku Islands and in the disputed South China Sea.
Motegi also urged that the proposed South China Sea Code of Conduct (COC) be consistent with the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and safeguard the legitimate rights of all states using the waterway.
While the Department of Foreign Affairs did not release the full text of Foreign Affairs Secretary Ma. Theresa Lazaro’s remarks during the meetings, China later said the Philippines and Japan had advanced what it described as ‘false rhetoric’ on the Taiwan Strait, the South China Sea and the so-called ‘China threat.’
China was represented by Vice Foreign Minister Hua Chunying after Foreign Minister Wang Yi, who attended Wednesday’s ASEAN Post-Ministerial Conference, did not participate in Thursday’s ARF and EAS sessions.
In a statement issued Friday, the Chinese delegation said it delivered a ‘forceful refutation on the spot.’
Beijing also criticized Japan by citing its civilian plutonium stockpile, claiming it possessed enough separated plutonium to produce thousands of nuclear warheads, while reiterating its longstanding position that Taiwan is an inseparable part of China.
On the South China Sea, China maintained that freedom of navigation has never been impeded and blamed countries outside the region for escalating tensions by deploying warships and military aircraft to the area.
The diplomatic exchange came days after fresh confrontations between Philippine and Chinese vessels in the West Philippine Sea. Two Filipino servicemen were reportedly injured during an encounter near Ayungin Shoal, while the China Coast Guard also used water cannon against a Philippine Coast Guard vessel near Panatag Shoal.
Both features lie within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone under the 2016 arbitral ruling, which China continues to reject.
Code of Conduct negotiations
Despite the sharp exchanges, ASEAN foreign ministers expressed optimism that negotiations on the South China Sea Code of Conduct could be concluded by the end of the year.
Speaking after the ARF and EAS meetings, Lazaro said negotiations have gained momentum, with monthly meetings being held since January to resolve outstanding issues, including the code’s geographic scope, terms of reference and whether it should be legally binding.
She said there is growing political will among negotiating parties-including China-to complete the agreement within the target timetable.
Lazaro stressed, however, that any final agreement must remain consistent with UNCLOS and must not diminish the rights of third parties.
‘The code must strictly align with the 1982 UNCLOS and guarantee no diminution of the rights of third parties when it talks about the governance of the seas and the behavior in the seas,’ she said.
Asked whether the eventual Code of Conduct could affect the Philippines’ provisional understanding with China on resupply missions to Ayungin Shoal, Lazaro declined to speculate.
‘We’ll see, because the code of conduct is the code of conduct,’ she said.
She also disputed suggestions that Manila had agreed under the provisional arrangement to refrain from construction activities at Ayungin Shoal.