China takes wait-and-see attitude on Spratlys document
BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN - China said Tuesday that it must study a proposed
nonbinding document to regulate conduct in the Spratly Islands area
before
it can evaluate whether the proposal is acceptable.
Foreign Minister Tang Jiaxuan, arriving at the annual Association of
Southeast Asian Nations meeting, said it didn't matter whether the paper
under consideration was called a code, a declaration or a resolution -
as
long as it was acceptable to Beijing.
"What matters are the contents,'' Tang said en route to a meeting
Tuesday
morning.
"I haven't seen it yet, though, so I don't really think I can comment on
it.''
Tang also expressed optimism about the global fight against terrorism,
saying that "advanced terrorism requires advanced and enhanced
international
cooperation.''
He said he wasn't worried that the fight against terrorism would produce
a
U.S. military buildup in Southeast Asia.
"The key issue now is to enhance trust and work together for the best
interest of the region,'' Tang said.
The Spratlys are of particular concern to ASEAN when it comes to
relations
with China.
Beijing has long laid claim to the archipelago, which it calls the
Nansha
Islands, and says historical maritime accounts support its contention.
However, several governments - including Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei, the
Philippines and non-ASEAN member Taiwan - have also claimed parts of the
region, which is brimming with fish and believed to sit atop untapped
oil
and gas reserves.
ASEAN had hoped to conclude the declaration by Tuesday so it could then
present it to China - a non-ASEAN member - for its acceptance.
China will be joining an ASEAN-sponsored regional security forum on
Wednesday and Thursday.
Tang met Tuesday morning with his counterparts from South Korea and
Japan
before holding a private meeting with Japanese Foreign Minister Yoriko
Kawaguchi.
The Associated Press - July 30, 2002
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