China vows to resolve disputes over oil and gas claims with neighbours
China promised to resolve all disputes over claims for oil and gas in the South China Sea with its Southeast Asian neighbours and to strengthen military ties as part of an effort to accelerate the formation of an economic East Asian Community.
China's commitment, made by Premier Wen Jiabao today at a summit of Asian nations being held in Singapore, is a sign that the world's fastest growing major economy is willing to spearhead the building of East Asia into a trading bloc.
''We should increase military exchanges and cooperation, pursue institutionalised defence cooperation, strengthen dialogue on defence policy and promote more cooperation between our militaries in non-traditional security areas,'' Wen said in a speech at the Association of Southeast Asian Nations gathering.
China will ''actively'' carry out a declaration signed in 2002 that the country and the 10 member states of Asean would peacefully resolve territorial claims. China and nations including the Philippines and Vietnam have disputed claims over areas such as the Spratly Islands, an area rich in potential oil reserves.
''We should follow the principles of equality and mutual benefit, being results-oriented, and pursuing long-term cooperation and common development,'' Wen said. His comments follow China, Japan and South Korea's pledge today to work with Asean to begin forming the East Asian Community in the coming decade.
Bloomberg - November 22, 2007.
Vietnam protests Chinese military exercise in disputed islands
HANOI - Vietnam has protested over a Chinese military exercise in the disputed Paracel archipelago and reasserted its claim over the islands, state media reported Saturday.
"China's act to conduct military exercises in the Hoang Sa (Paracel) archipelago violates Vietnam's sovereignty," foreign ministry spokesman Le Dung said according to the Vietnam News Agency (VNA).
"It is not in line with the common perception of senior leaders of the two countries as well as the spirit of the recent meeting between the two prime ministers on the sidelines of the 13th ASEAN Summit in Singapore and not beneficial to a bilateral friendly relationship," he said according to VNA.
VNA said China held the military exercise from November 16 to 23.
The Paracels -- a group of small islands and reefs with potential oil and gas reserves and rich fishing grounds -- were controlled by French Indochina and have since been claimed by Vietnam, China and Taiwan.
China has administered them since 1974 when its troops overran a South Vietnamese outpost shortly before the end of the Vietnam war.
Dung reaffirmed Vietnam's claim over the Paracels as well as the disputed Spratly archipelago and stressed Vietnam's wish to resolve the disputes "with the aim of keeping peace and stability" in the region.
Agence France Presse - November 24, 2007.
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