South china sea 27jul2
the star
Asean to consider proposal on South China Sea
By SIM LEOI LEOIBANDAR SRI BEGAWAN: Asean members have promised to give consideration to Malaysia’s proposal for the code of conduct on the South China Sea be changed to a declaration.
Malaysian Foreign Ministry’s secretary-general Datuk Ahmad Fuzi Razak said the proposal was put forward to the other Asean members during an informal working dinner on Thursday.
“Some of the officials from member countries have indicated they would discuss the proposal with their ministers when they arrive for the Asean Ministerial Meeting (AMM) tomorrow because this is the first time that such a proposal had come from us.
“They suggested that we should expect a response to be given to us during the course of that meeting or alternatively, after the meeting but before the next Asean summit,” he said at the start of the Senior Officials’ Meeting at the International Convention Centre here yesterday.
He said some Asean countries appeared to be considering Malaysia’s proposal favourably when it was first brought up, especially the Philippines and Vietnam which had agreed to study the options.
Last Tuesday, Malaysian Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar said the country was “toying with the idea” that a political statement be issued guaranteeing security and peace within the South China Sea.
The idea, which was mooted in Thailand three years ago, had reached a deadlock after members of the Asean Regional Forum (ARF) failed to agree on the geographical scope to which the code should apply.
The ARF is a regional security forum which groups the 10 Asean members with countries like China, Korea and India.
China had wanted the scope to include the whole of the South China Sea whereas Malaysia had suggested that it should only be applicable to areas where there were overlapping claims, such as the Spratlys Island.
Currently, several countries including Malaysia, have laid claim to the Spratlys. Among others, the official said, Malaysia would propose that the code of conduct would have its title changed to include the word “declaration.”
“We feel that this term would be easier for the member countries to support and accept although the contents of our proposal remain more or less the same that that of the code of conduct, except for some minor amendments,’’ he said.
The official said Malaysia’s proposal was not discussed in a formal meeting but informally because it was a “nature” of Asean’s consultation to do so just get “a feel” for the subject.
“There are still a number of areas under our proposal which still need further clarification with the other members. We will be able to get a clearer response once the ministers have arrived,” he said.
However, both the Philippines and Indonesia had maintained that a “breakthrough” had been reached in the talks on the geographical scope of the code.
“We have reached a compromise on the scope based on the Philippines formula,” said Philippines foreign undersecretary Lauro Baja, but he did not elaborate on the formula.
He said if Asean were to decide whether to follow Malaysia’s proposal, they need to get back to China.