China opposes sea row ‘internationalisation’
Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao told Southeast Asian leaders on Monday that negotiations to end territorial disputes in the South China Sea should only be held between claimant countries.
Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao told Southeast Asian leaders on Monday that negotiations to end territorial disputes in the South China Sea should only be held between claimant countries.
Wen stressed Beijing’s position during a summit with the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) in the Cambodian capital of Phnom Penh, Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Qin Gang told reporters.
Qin said Wen quoted from a 2002 deal reached between Asean and China in which they agreed to limit negotiations to “directly concerned” countries.
Wen said that among the principles under the 10-year-old declaration is to “oppose the internationalisation of the issue”.
“So Premier Wen quoted the principles... enshrined in the declaration,” according to Qin.
Asean members Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia and Brunei, as well as Taiwan, have claims to parts of the sea, which is also believed to be rich in fossil fuels.
