East Asia Summit: China accuses United States of ‘political provocation’

Prior to the meeting, U.S. President Barack Obama labeled the South China Sea as “a major topic”, and U.S. National Security Advisor Susan Rice dubbed it “a central issue of discussion”.

While leaders of ASEAN member states are set to sign on Sunday a pact that will mark the establishment of a region-wide economic grouping to be in place in January next year, long-running maritime border disputes in the South China Sea involving four ASEAN member states and China continue to overshadow the future of stability in the region.

“First, ASEAN and China must, I repeat, must promote regional peace and stability”, Jokowi said, calling on all relevant parties to expedite talks over the CoC during the meeting, where Chinese Premier Li Keqiang was also present.

Mr Liu’s comments at the annual East Asia Summit, this year hosted by Kuala Lumpur, were a few of the most forceful explanations that China has given regarding its position on the South China Sea.

Foreign Minister Julie Bishop said the Government has a legitimate interest in maintaining respect for worldwide law in the South China Sea.

“Although the United States has not always acted with urgency ever since they announced their “pivot to Asia” policy in 2011, allowing China to commence reclamation in the West Philippine Sea even as early as 2013, at least now they see the threat that China’s reclamation and construction poses not only to the Philippines but also to other countries in the region and to freedom of navigation for all countries”, Acedillo said.

China said yesterday it is offering US$10 billion (RM42.92 billion) in infrastructure loans to Southeast Asian countries along with aid to the region’s underdeveloped states, as it seeks to expand its influence in the developing world. This also includes military facilities to protect the islands and reefs, which are located far from mainland China, he said. Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei, the Philippines and Taiwan have rival claims.

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said the Self-Defense Forces will not join USA freedom of navigation operations in the South China Sea, just days after telling President Barack Obama he would consider the move.

China is Malaysia’s largest trade partner and they have close diplomatic ties.

China claims most of the South China Sea, through which more than $5 trillion of world trade transits every year.

The leaders of 10 Southeast Asian nations have formally created the ASEAN Economic Community at a summit in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

She said two-thirds of Australia’s trade goes through the area and warned that China’s land reclamations were raising regional tensions. “To accommodate or condone the current situation, we can not accept – we need to ensure the rule of law and freedom of navigation”, he said via a translator.

Obama also backed ASEAN’s calls for progress with China on agreeing on a code of conduct at sea to prevent conflict. “They should not be mistaken for the militarization of the South China Sea”, he said. “President Obama’s attendance at the meetings itself is, to the region, very significant”, said Joseph Chinyong Liow, professor of comparative and global politics at Nanyang Technological University in Singapore. (All times local.) 8:25 p.m. Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak has thanked Myanmar President Thein Sein for steering his country in its transition to a “new democratic Myanmar”.