PHNOM PENH – Japan warned on Monday that a row over the South China Sea could damage “peace and stability”in Asia as China stalled on a plan to ease tensions and disagreements flared between the Philippines and Cambodia over the dispute.
The acrimony provided an uneasy backdrop to United States President Barack Obama’s arrival in Cambodia for a regional summit where he is expected to urge China and Southeast Asian nations to resolve the row, one of Asia’s biggest security issues.
Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda challenged efforts by summit host Cambodia, a staunch China ally, to limit discussions on the mineral-rich sea, where China’s territorial claims overlap those of four Southeast Asian countries and of Taiwan.
“Prime Minister Noda raised the issue of the South China Sea, noting that this is of common concern for the international community, which would have direct impact on peace and stability of the Asia-Pacific,” a Japanese government statement said after Mr Noda met Asean leaders.
That followed a statement on Sunday from Mr Kao Kim Hourn, a Cambodian foreign ministry official, who said South-east Asian leaders “had decided that they will not internationalise the South China Sea from now on.”
In a sign of tension, Philippine President Benigno Aquino disputed the Cambodian statement and said no such agreement was reached, voicing his objections in tense final minutes of discussions between Noda and Southeast Asian leaders.
As Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen began to conclude the meeting with Mr Noda, Mr Aquino abruptly raised his hand and tersely interjected.
“There were several views expressed yesterday on Asean unity which we did not realise would be translated into an Asean consensus,” he said, according to his spokesman.
“For the record, this was not our understanding. The Asean route is not the only route for us. As a sovereign state, it is our right to defend our national interests.”
Alternative diplomatic routes for the Philippines would likely involve the US, one of its closest allies, which has said it has a national interest in freedom of navigation through the South China Sea’s vital shipping lanes.
Asean on Sunday agreed to formally ask China to start talks on a Code of Conduct (CoC) aimed at easing the risk of naval flashpoints, according to its Secretary General, Surin Pitsuwan.
But Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao appeared to play down the need for urgent action in talks on Sunday night with Mr Hun Sen.
Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Qin Gang said he could “not recall” Mr Hun Sen making a formal request for talks.
“It takes some time for China and Asean to discuss the CoC,” he said. He repeated Cambodia’s statement that Asean had reached a “common position” not to internationalise the issue, directly contradicting Mr Aquino.
Mr Obama will meet South-east Asian leaders on Monday evening before sitting down with Mr Wen on Tuesday.
China’s sovereignty claims over the stretch of water off its south coast and to the east of mainland South-east Asia set it directly against US allies Vietnam and the Philippines, while Brunei, Taiwan and Malaysia also lay claim to parts.
Sino-Japanese relations are also under strain after the Japanese government bought disputed islands known as Senkaku in Japan and Diaoyu in China from a private Japanese owner in September, triggering violent protests and calls for boycotts of Japanese products across China.
China prefers to address conflicts through one-on-one talks.
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