China to Japan: Stay away from the South China Sea

REUTERS/U.S. Navy/Handout via Reuters

China called on Japan not to get involved in the South China Sea disputes in a regional summit on Friday, where Beijing is also attempting to get support for its stance towards the disputes after a ruling by an international court.

The exchanges between Premier Li Keqiang and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe came amid worries over tensions in the disputed waters after the Permanent Court of Arbitration in the Hague ruled against Beijing.

Li told Abe on the sideline of the Asia-Europe Meeting (Asem) of about 50 nations in Ulan Bator, Mongolia, that Tokyo should “stop hyping up and interfering in the South China Sea issue”, Xinhua reported.

Li said the improvement of bilateral ties between the two nations had been slow because of “complicated disturbances”, and called on both to be more responsible in managing their relations.

He added that the two nations should maintain dialogue and step up economic cooperation.

China and Japan have had bitter disputes over sovereignty of the East China Sea, but Japan is not a claimant state of the South China Sea.

Abe told Li that a rule-based international order must be respected, Japan’s Kyodo news agency quoted a senior Japanese official as saying. Japan and Vietnam also agreed that the tribunal ruling must be observed.

The international tribunal ruled on Tuesday that China has no historic claims over the waters of the South China Sea and that it had violated Philippines sovereign rights with its actions.

Beijing made angry responses to the ruling, saying that China was determined to protect its territorial integrity and the disputes should be resolved through bilateral negotiations with the countries directly involved.

Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan also have claims over the waters.

Beijing has been strengthening its diplomatic push for support from non-claimant states over the past months.

REUTERS/U.S. Navy/Handout via Reuters

In his talks with Lao Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith on the sideline of the Asem on Thursday, Li expounded on China’s principles and stance on the arbitration case, Xinhua reported.

“Thongloun said that Laos supports China’s position, and is willing to work with China to maintain peace and stability in the South China Sea region,” the report said.

Cambodia’s Prime Minister Hun Sen said that China would give his government nearly US$600 million in aid to support the country’s election infrastructure, education and health. He said in a statement that the aid was finalised after he met with Li on the sideline of the regional meeting.

“At my request, our Chinese friends have agreed to provide funds for supporting the election process, health care, education and clean water,” he said.

China is a key ally and economic partner of Cambodia through huge aid and investments.

Xinhua quoted Hun Sen as saying in his talks with Li that Cambodia was willing to work with all parties to keep up friendly cooperation between the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and China.

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