Recently, Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi attended a series of Foreign Ministers’ Meetings on East Asia Cooperation in Singapore, reached broad consensus with ASEAN on regional cooperation issues, conducted useful discussions on regional hot issues, and refuted Attempts by major powers outside the region to interfere in the affairs of the South China Sea.
Wang Yi said that since the establishment of China-ASEAN strategic partnership 15 years ago, the relationship between the two parties has continued to develop, achieving a leap from quantitative accumulation to qualitative leap, from a growth period of rapid development to a maturity of quality improvement and upgrading. period and entered a new stage of all-round development.
Political mutual trust has greatly increased
In his opening speech at the China-ASEAN (11) Foreign Ministers' Meeting, Singaporean Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan reviewed the development of relations between ASEAN and China, saying that in the past three years In 2018, cooperation between the two sides in many areas such as trade, investment and innovation has made remarkable progress. He said that such cooperation is only possible by building mutual trust and confidence. "Sometimes differences arise, and the key at this time is to find common sense, emphasize pragmatic cooperation, and resolve differences through peaceful means in a spirit of friendship."< /p>
On August 2, Wang Yi said at a briefing for Chinese and foreign media after the China-ASEAN (11) Foreign Ministers’ Meeting: “Today’s meeting was more harmonious, more stable, and more friendly than in previous years. It once again reflects the further strengthening of mutual trust and stronger mutual support between China and ASEAN countries."
"The world environment has changed, which is the difference between this year's East Asia Cooperation Foreign Ministers' Meetings and previous years. "Zhang Yuquan, deputy director of the Center for American Studies at Sun Yat-sen University, said in an interview with this reporter that under the background of US trade protectionism and unilateralism policies intensifying their impact on the global free trade system, China and ASEAN are facing many common challenges and need to strengthen Political mutual trust, economic and trade cooperation and maintaining regional stability have become the common sense of both sides.
On August 4, Wang Yi said at a briefing for Chinese and foreign media held after the series of foreign ministers’ meetings on East Asia cooperation that the ASEAN and China, Japan and South Korea (13) foreign ministers’ meeting formed three important points** *knowledge. It can be summarized as follows: first, ASEAN countries work together to safeguard free trade, oppose protectionism, and adhere to the multilateralist process; second, with the establishment of the ASEAN Community and the recovery and development of China-Japan-ROK cooperation, it is time to actively promote East Asia The economic community has been built; third, the negotiations on the "Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement" (RCEP) have been accelerated.
“The achievement of consensus means the strengthening of political mutual trust between China and ASEAN, which is good news for all countries in East Asia.” Zhang Yuquan said that there have been positive developments in the security situation in East Asia this year: First of all The nuclear issue on the Korean Peninsula has returned to the track of resolution through dialogue and consultation. All parties, including the United States and North Korea, have reached important consensus on achieving denuclearization on the peninsula and establishing a peace mechanism on the peninsula. Secondly, with the joint efforts of China and the 10 ASEAN countries, the situation in the South China Sea has further stabilized.
The draft "code of conduct" was reached
China and ASEAN will hold joint military exercises off the coast of Guangdong Province, China, from October 22 to 28, without the participation of the United States and Australia. Philippine Navy spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Jonathan Zata said that the upcoming Chinese-led naval exercises will focus on "search and rescue operations" and will apply "the rules for unexpected encounters at sea."
“The use of the ‘Rules for Unexpected Encounters at Sea’ is to reduce conflicts and demonstrate that mutual trust in military security between the two sides has been further enhanced.” Zhang Yuquan said that the purpose of the exercise is to establish mutual trust in the South China Sea and start the habit of multilateral cooperation. Negotiations on the "Code of Conduct in the South China Sea" will take a long time. Under such circumstances, joint military exercises will help ease maritime tensions.
The Chinese Navy and the navies of ASEAN countries recently participated in a tabletop simulation exercise held in Singapore. The report quoted Singaporean Navy officer Lin Yuchuan as saying, "The tabletop exercise is a good first step for ASEAN and the Chinese navy to respond to maritime incidents."
According to Singapore's "Straits Times" website According to reports, ASEAN and China have reached an agreement on a single draft consultation text on the "South China Sea Code of Conduct", and the two sides have also agreed on "key procedures" for future consultations.
“This is like China and ASEAN countries building a house together. In the past, 11 countries may have 11 design plans. Now we have not only unified one design plan and laid the foundation, but we have also built "The report quoted Wang Yi as saying, "I believe that as long as we eliminate external interference, the 'code' negotiation can move forward faster." Gao Ruilian, a researcher at Nanyang Technological University in Singapore, believes that the two sides have reached an agreement. Consciousness means that claimants to the South China Sea have established a set of treaty clauses that can be used as reference for future talks.
The draft single consultation text of the "South China Sea Code of Conduct" shows that China hopes to conduct military exercises and energy exploration activities with Southeast Asian countries in the disputed waters, but insists on excluding countries outside the region. The website of the French weekly "Express" believes that this reflects the initial positions of various countries in the formulation of the "South China Sea Code of Conduct".
Reaching a single draft consultation text on the "Code of Conduct in the South China Sea" and holding joint exercises, the interactions between China and ASEAN frequently spread warmth.
Zhang Yuquan said that the South China Sea issue no longer constitutes an obstacle to cooperation between China and ASEAN for three reasons: First, it is a lesson learned from the past. The Aquino III government of the Philippines once served as the vanguard of the United States' "return to the Asia-Pacific" strategy, turning the Philippines into Being tied to the chariot of the United States has not yielded any benefits, and ASEAN countries are unwilling to repeat the same mistake; secondly, after Trump came to power, the United States pursued the "America First" principle and ignored the interests of regional countries and made trouble; thirdly, China We have always adhered to the peripheral foreign policy of good-neighborliness, security and prosperity, and pursued the principle of mutual benefit and win-win, which not only truly benefits neighboring countries, but also occupies the moral high ground and gets more help.
"The 'South China Sea Code of Conduct' still has a long way to go before it is finally reached, but there are three principles that must be followed throughout. One is to exclude the United States, the other is to insist on mutual benefit and reciprocity, and the third is to resolutely safeguard China's Sovereignty." Zhang Yuquan said.
Determine the future independently
While China and ASEAN are actively promoting bilateral cooperation, there are still some noises from outside the region. However, these noises have stopped making waves in the South China Sea.
US Secretary of State Pompeo revealed at the ASEAN meeting in Singapore that "to support our efforts to promote security in the Indo-Pacific region, the United States will invest nearly US$300 million in new funds." He said the funds would be mainly used for maritime security, humanitarian assistance and peacekeeping missions, while also responding to "transnational threats." According to reports, before visiting Southeast Asia, Pompeo revealed that the United States will invest US$113 million to promote its "Indo-Pacific Strategy" and called it "the first payment of the new era of the United States' commitment to the Southeast Asian regional economy."
Whether it is US$113 million for economic development or US$300 million for security projects, international public opinion generally believes that these two US investments are aimed at China.
The release of the United States’ new vision of a “free and open Indo-Pacific” comes at a time when China is expanding its influence through the “Belt and Road” initiative and strengthening trade ties with Southeast Asia and other countries. Radio France Internationale said that the United States’ move is undoubtedly a provocation to the relationship between China and ASEAN.
From People’s Daily Online