Joint statement scrapped on disputed seas

Japanese Defense Minister Gen Nakatani met with Chinese counterpart Chang Wanquan at a hotel on the outskirts of Kuala Lumpur, the first meeting between the two nations’ defense ministers in almost four and a half years.

ASEAN defence ministers could not reach consensus on a regional security statement but vowed to bridge differences, including on the South China Sea spat, in their upcoming meetings.

The Ministry of National Defense’s Information Office stated that “stand-alone countries outside the region are completely responsible” for the failure to release the document, without stating the names of the countries or their number.

The South China Sea issue has become a regular sticking point in communiques issued by Asean-hosted meetings.

The U.S. Navy plans to conduct patrols within 12 nautical miles of artificial islands in the South China Sea about twice a quarter to remind China and other countries about US rights under worldwide law, a USA defense official said on Monday.

The 18 ministers, who gathered in Subang on the outskirts of Kuala Lumpur, had been expected to adopt the “Kuala Lumpur Joint Declaration” but eventually an ASEAN chairman’s statement was issued instead.

China did not accept the draft of the declaration which mentioned the establishment of a Code of Conduct (COC) of Parties in the South China Sea that will govern the activities of the countries involved in the territorial dispute in the region.

Carter was joined on the ship by Malaysian Defense Minister Hishammuddin Hussein. US defense officials have said Carter would not be on any warship carrying out such patrols.

For just the second time in Asean’s five-decade history, a ministerial meeting on Wednesday ended without a joint statement being issued by the 10-member regional bloc.

The official declined to give specific details but said the Philippines, which traditionally argues for a stronger stance against China’s territorial ambitions, was satisfied with the reference.

As another indication that the United States is working to weaken China’s position in the South China Sea without cutting ties completely, three Chinese naval ships docked in Florida Thursday for a friendly visit.

He called his visit to the USS Theodore Roosevelt “a symbol” of America’s stabilising presence in the region.

A 2013 communique after a Brunei meeting of ASEAN foreign ministers referred to the importance of “peace, stability, and maritime security in the region” and the resolution of any disputes “by peaceful means in accordance with universally recognised principles of global law”. India is also slowly but steadily cranking up its military cooperation with ASEAN countries like Vietnam, Malaysia and Philippines, with even the export of BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles being discussed, as a strategic hedge against China.