VIENTIANE”•The leaders of the Association of South East Asian Nations on Wednesday expressed concern over China’s continuing reclamation in the disputed areas in the South China Sea.
But the 10-member regional bloc avoided mentioning the landmark ruling favoring the Philippines in its row with Beijing, an advance draft of the chairman’s statement showed.
Still, Beijing’s island-building in the South China Sea, labeled “illegal” by an international tribunal, moved to center stage here after the Philippines produced photos of at least 10 Chinese dredgers on Scarborough Shoal, which officials say poses a threat to the Philippines’ territorial integrity.
“We remain seriously concerned over recent and ongoing developments and note the concerns expressed by some leaders on the land reclamation and escalation of activities in the area, which have eroded trust and confidence, increased tensions and may undermine the peace, security and stability in the region,” said Lao PDR Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith, who heads the regional meet this year.
He made the statement even as China’s Foreign Ministry spokeswoman, Hua Chunying, said Wednesday there had been no change in the situation around the contested Scarborough or Panatag Shoal after the Philippines filed a diplomatic protest following an increase in the number of Chinese patrol ships in the area.
“I can tell you that there has not been any change to the Huangyan Island situation. China has also not taken new actions,” Hua said.
But the presence of several Chinese vessels on Scarborough Shoal, which lies 123 miles off Subic in Zambales is a precursor to the possible building of structures in the area, according to Defense department spokesman Arsenio Andolong.
“We believe that this is a precursor to the possible building of structures on the shoal, which is why we are gravely concerned about this development,” Andolong said.
The Defense Department earlier released pictures of the Chinese vessels lying off Scarborough Shoal. The pictures were taken by a Filipino military aircraft that was on an overflight mission to the area on Sept. 3.
A security official slammed the presence of Chinese ships swarming Scarborough Shoal.
“I think it’s an indication that they are resorting to subterfuge to further their aim,” said the official who requested anonymity.
“There is a possibility that they will start reclamation activities.”
Sisoulith says the the recurring topic of the talks in Vientiane reaffirms the need to “respect freedom of navigation” in the disputed waters amid China’s alleged harassment of the fishermen in the area.
“We reaffirm the importance of maintaining and promoting peace, security, stability, safety and freedom of navigation in and over the South China Sea,” his statement says.
While his statement made reference to the regional flash point in the South China Sea, the leaders of the Asean moved to just adopt the agreements made during the Lao chairmanship, such as the Joint Statement of the Foreign Ministers of Asean Member States and China on the Full and Effective Implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea by the first half of 2017, and to create the framework on the Code for Unplanned Encounters at Sea in the South China Sea.
The Philippines in July won the arbitration case it filed before the Permanent Court of Arbitration, which rejected China’s claims over most of the South China Sea, including the areas within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone.