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WORLD NEWS Monday 7 august 2017

China sets conditions for start of talks on sea feud code

maritime accord. He did ceived as delaying nego-
not mention any precondi- tiations with ASEAN for the
tions. maritime code to allow it
Acting U.S. Assistant Secre- to launch and complete
tary of State for East Asian its land reclamations in the
and Pacific Affairs Susan South China Sea without
Thornton said countries any such regulatory restric-
locked in the sea disputes tions. Wang’s mention of
should halt provocative the vague conditions can
moves to foster a diplomat- allow China to delay or halt
ic resolution. the planned talks for any
“We think all of the coun- reason.
tries in the region should While China has had robust
agree that while they have economic ties with South-
this diplomatic process go- east Asia, a diverse region
ing on that they would stop of more than 600 million
improving or expanding or people with a combined
militarizing any of their out- GDP of $2.4 trillion, both
posts,” Thornton said. have tangled for years over
China had long been per- the territorial conflicts.q

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, center, is escorted by Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines
Zhao Jianhua, left, during the 50th ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in suburban Pasay city south
Manila, Philippines. China’s top diplomat said Sunday that talks for a nonaggression pact for the
disputed South China Sea may start this year if “outside parties” don’t cause a major disruption.
(AP Photo/Bullit Marquez)
By TERESA CEROJANO ence in Manila that those tion, then we will consider
JIM GOMEZ conditions include non-in- during the November lead-
Associated Press terference by “outside par- ers’ meeting, we will jointly
MANILA, Philippines (AP) ties,” apparently referring announce the official start
— China’s top diplomat to the United States, which of the code of conduct
said Sunday that talks for a Beijing has frequently ac- consultation,” Wang said.
nonaggression pact aimed cused of meddling in what The situation in the South
at preventing clashes from it says is an Asian dispute China Sea should also be
erupting in the disputed that should be resolved “generally stable,” he said.
South China Sea may start only by the countries in- “China and ASEAN have
this year if “outside parties” volved. the ability to work together
don’t cause a major disrup- China’s territorial disputes to maintain regional peace
tion. in the strategic and poten- and stability and we will
Chinese Foreign Minister tially oil- and gas-rich wa- work out regional rules that
Wang Yi said the start of terway with five other gov- we mutually agreed upon
talks for a “code of con- ernments intensified after it so as to open up a bright
duct” in the disputed wa- built islands in disputed wa- future for our future rela-
ters may be announced by ters and reportedly started tions,” he said.
the heads of state of China to install a missile defense A Philippine government
and the 10-member Asso- system on them, alarm- spokesman, Robespierre
ciation of Southeast Asian ing rival claimant states, Bolivar, also announced
Nations at their annual the U.S. and other Western that ASEAN and Chinese
summit in the Philippines in governments. ministers have approved
November if Beijing’s con- “If there is no major disrup- a framework for the code
ditions are met. tion from outside parties, and agreed on steps to
Wang told a news confer- with that as the precondi- start negotiations on the