China's Xi tells Vietnam wants peace in South China Sea
Beijing's assertion of sovereignty over a vast stretch of the South China Sea has set it directly against Vietnam and the Philippines, while Brunei, Taiwan and Malaysia also lay claim to other parts of the sea, making it Asia's biggest potential military troublespot.
At stake are potentially massive offshore oil reserves. The seas also lie on shipping lanes and fishing grounds.
Vietnam has accused China of harassing or attacking Vietnamese fishing boats in the South China Sea where their mutual territorial claims overlap, while China has told Vietnam to better educate their sailors to stay out of Chinese waters.
In December, Vietnam accused Chinese ships of sabotaging an exploration operation by state oil and gas company, Petrovietnam, by cutting a seismic cable.
But Xi took a more conciliatory line during his meeting with President Truong Tan Sang in Beijing's central Great Hall of the People, where Sang was given full military honors at his welcome ceremony.
"China and Vietnam must both act in a spirit of responsibility towards history and their people, put the broader picture of Sino-Vietnam friendship and bilateral development first, make up their minds to ... push for a political resolution to the South China Sea issue and prevent it from affecting ties," Xi said, according to China's Foreign Ministry.
"What is crucial is maintaining stability and promoting cooperation," added Xi, who assumed the presidency in March.
"TRADITIONAL FRIENDSHIP"
China "needs a peaceful and stable neighboring environment", he added.
However, Xi reiterated China's position that the South China Sea must be resolved by direct talks between the claimant nations, rejecting outside involvement.
China has resisted proposals for a multilateral code of conduct for the waters, preferring to try to negotiate disputes with each of the far less powerful individual claimants.
Beijing has been angered by U.S. attempts to involve itself in the dispute, and has looked on warily as Washington strengthens military ties with both Hanoi and Manila.
China has also stepped up activity in the region, including establishing garrisons on some of the disputed islands, and accused Washington of seeking to stir up trouble far from home.
Sang told Xi that Vietnam wanted to resolve their disputes through talks too, China's Foreign Ministry added.
"The two countries have a deep traditional friendship, and this is a treasure for the two peoples (to cherish)," he added.
Unprecedented arguments over the sea prevented an Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit last July from issuing a joint communique, the first time this had happened in the 10-member bloc's 45-year history.
Despite China giving Vietnam steadfast support against U.S. forces in the Vietnam war, ties have been testy since, and only partly because of the maritime arguments.
China invaded Vietnam in February 1979 to punish Hanoi for toppling the Beijing-backed Khmer Rouge in Cambodia one month earlier, poisoning relations for decades between the two Communist neighbors.
Reuters
Xi Jinping and Vietnamese President Truong Tan Sang Tan South China Sea issue: To prevent interference with the South China Sea issues of bilateral relations
(Reporter Ma Chuang President Xi Jinping at the Great Hall on June 19 with Vietnamese President Truong Tan Sang held talks two heads of state in a friendly and candid atmosphere, in the new situation to deepen the Sino-Vietnamese comprehensive strategic cooperation in-depth exchange of views and reached broad consensus.)
About South China Sea issue, Xi Jinping stressed that both China and Vietnam must be based on the history and the people responsible for the spirit of Sino-Vietnamese friendship and bilateral development plan as the most important, determined to guide and promote a political solution to the South China Sea, to prevent interference with bilateral relations. Lies Maintenance stability and promote cooperation. Both sides should adhere to promoting bilateral negotiations and friendly consultations, not to take anything that might make the controversial complicate or escalate unilateral action to prevent the South China Sea issue international. China is willing to make joint efforts with Vietnam to increase the mouth of the Beibu Bay waters outside the working group negotiating strength and density, for simultaneously promoting common development and demarcation of the Beibu Bay as soon as possible to carry out joint inspection estuary waters(http://www.best-news.us/).
Truong Tan Sang said that Vietnam would like to earnestly implement the consensus reached by the two countries through friendly consultation and properly handle relevant issues, and actively discuss maritime demarcation of the Beibu Bay estuary and joint development, and jointly safeguard peace and stability at sea, as not to affect bilateral relationship.
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How would you believe what this China man said?
ReplyDeleteMultiple attacks against Vietnamese Fishing boats by the Chinese. These incidents happen everyday. China imposes fishing ban on the East Sea. Thousands of Chinese fishing boats swamped the East Sea near Spratly and Paracel Islands accompanied by Chinese battle ships.
Never befriend with an enemy. It's time to make a stand. Look at what Japan and the Philippines do. Vietnamese Communist leaders are dumb and turn themselves to be obediant servants of the Chinese. They don't represent the Vietnamese people. They only serve to their own interests and those of their party no matter what. As long as the Communists remain in power, Vietnam won't get away from Chinese influence and manipulation. Vietnam would become China's colony. Vietnamese fishermen won't be able to fish on sea. Anyone chanting anti China slogan would be beaten up, accused of subversion and imprisoned for life.