US takes firm line with China over rows with neighbours

The US yesterday fired a broadside at China over the maritime rows roiling Asia and secured assurances over its exports of rare earth minerals, which have become another regional irritant.

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton waded into the disputes over South China Sea and East China Sea islands as she took part in the 16-nation East Asia Summit, which the US is attending for the first time.

“The United States has a national interest in the freedom of navigation and unimpeded lawful commerce,” the chief US diplomat said in a speech to the EAS, repeating the US position in the presence of China in Vietnam’s capital.

“And when disputes arise over maritime territory, we are committed to resolving them peacefully based on customary international law,” Clinton said. But she also sounded a softer note, saying “with regard to the South China Sea, we are encouraged by China’s recent steps to enter discussions with ASEAN about a more formal binding code of conduct.”

The Philippines said China last Friday made such assurances in response to concerns from leaders of the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) who met with China’s premier Wen Jiabao last Friday.

ASEAN, which is part of EAS, hopes that a “declaration” on a mooted code of conduct could lead to a mechanism to govern actions in the disputed waterway – a resource-rich region which is a vital conduit for trade in goods and energy.

Diplomatic sources say that a working group from ASEAN and China will meet in December to prepare the groundwork and establish technical details on how a code could be formulated.

The US has said it is willing to help craft the code to end disputes that threaten regional stability.

But Beijing insists on bilateral discussions with those nations that have territorial claims – a forum where it has more clout – and has warned the US not to interfere.

Analysts said the US is re-engaging with Southeast Asia as it tries to counter-balance China’s growing assertiveness in the region.

To the north, a row still simmers between China and Japan after Tokyo on September 8 arrested a Chinese trawler captain near Japanese-administered islands, known as Senkaku in Japan and Diaoyu in China.

In a press conference, Clinton repeated remarks she made in Hawaii this week that the islands fall under chapter five of the 1960 US-Japan Treaty of Mutual Cooperation and Security.

Under the treaty, the US is obliged to defend Japan against any attack on a territory under Tokyo’s administration.

China’s Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi responded yesterday by telling Clinton to be “cautious” when discussing the maritime issue. According to comments posted on the Chinese foreign ministry’s website, he urged her to “respect China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, and to not make irresponsible remarks”.

Meanwhile Clinton said she had won “assurances” from Yang on China’s policy toward exports of rare earth minerals, which Beijing has been accused of restricting in the aftermath of the row with Japan.