1、WASHINGTON China is responding to accusations that it scuttled Southeast Asian unity over the South China Sea by lashing out at what it calls Western meddling among rival claimants. The Obama administration, though, says China should not pursue a divide-and-conquer strategy in the maritime standoff.
2、Chinese patrols in waters also claimed by Vietnam and the Philippines are deepening animosities in the South China Sea.U.S. State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland What were most concerned about at the moment is that tensions are going up among the stakeholders. So we want to see a commitment t
3、o a deal that meets the needs of all.Engagement through ASEANWashington believes that deal should come through the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, or ASEAN.But Beijing says the South China Sea is an issue for rival claimants to decide among themselves. On a trip to Indonesia, Malaysia, and B
4、runei, Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi said ASEAN should focus on broader goals.Peace, stability and development in East Asia is our common aspiration, said Yang. In a complicated international situation, we need to maintain regional stability, promote mutual trust, and boost economic growth.Wh
5、en ASEAN foreign ministers last month failed to agree on a unified approach to the maritime dispute, China was roundly criticized for dividing the group.Following Yangs trip, however, Chinas official Xinhua news agency lashed out at those accusations, saying ASEAN unity was undermined by Western med
6、dling meant to smear Chinas positive role.Nuland says ASEAN countries want to protect their larger security interests.They came at it from different perspectives, and rather than whitewashing that problem and having a weak communiqu that didnt say much, they chose to continue to talk about it, she s
7、aid.Yang said ASEAN members value their friendship with China, since the bloc has become Beijings third-largest trading partner.Determining Chinas agendaJustin Logan, who directs foreign policy studies at the U.S. Cato Institute, said Chinese contracts remain a lucrative incentive for ASEAN members
8、without claims to the South China Sea.I think the chances for a code of conduct that meant something, at the outset, were low, he said. And so I think that what this might do is create a clearer distinction between ASEAN countries and their position on China.Nuland said a divisive strategy by China
9、would not be good.If bilateral diplomacy can be supportive of an ultimate, multilateral framework, then that will be fine; but we dont think that cutting deals with these countries individually is going to work, let alone be the expedient way or the best way under international law to get this done, she said.Yang said China backs ASEANs leading role at the East Asia Summit and at next months meeting of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum in Russia.
