China Insists on Direct and Friendly Consultation Over Spratly Island Dispute

KUALA LUMPUR, May 29 (Bernama) –- China insists that countries involved in the Spratly Islands dispute engage in direct and friendly consultation in accordance to the International Law of the Sea, in order to resolve the issue peacefully. China’s Ambassador to Asean Tong Xiaoling said that China also advocated that the parties concerned try to find provisional and transitional measures before a final solution on the dispute, including “putting aside differences for joint development”, that could bring about mutual benefits for them. She said this also could avoid straining state-to-state relations between the countries involved in the dispute. "China believes that in the process of dispute settlement, parties concerned should exercise restraint and refrain from taking actions that might make the dispute escalate or become more complicated. "The claimant states should undertake to address territorial and jurisdiction disputes through peaceful means, and not to take actions that may complicate and intensify the situation," she said at the 26th Asia-Pacific Roundtable here, Tuesday. The two-day conference themed “Asian Security Governance and Order” was organised by the Institute of Strategic and International Studies (ISIS), Malaysia. Brunei, China, Malaysia, the Philippines, Vietnam and Taiwan have staked claims over ownership of the islands, which are rich with minerals and marine resources. Following the dispute, China and Asean member-states signed the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC) in 2002, which is the first political document on the South China Sea issue. Meanwhile, when met by Bernama, Tong reiterated that while China abided by the principle of mutual respect for the sovereignty of its neighbouring countries, it was against the interference of a third party as an arbitrator to the decades-long conflict. "We are of the opinion that bilateral issues can only be settled by parties directly involved in the dispute. "We are against third party mediation as we do not wish to see South China Sea becoming a playground for power politics," she added. On another matter, Tong said every nation had the right to develop nuclear power for peace and development purposes and an alternative energy source. But this should be within the realm of the country’s and international laws, she said. She said China was also the only nuclear power in the world which has pronounced its commitment of non use of nuclear weapons against non-nuclear states and no first use of nuclear weapons. -- BERNAMA